Hollywood star Raquel Welch has passed away at the age of 82

The American actress and model rose to fame after starring in Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years BC in 1966, despite having a few streaks in the latter.

Her performance in One Million Years BC caught viewers after she donned her famous deer skin bikini, and became seen as a major sex symbol.

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Welch passed away after a short illness early Wednesday, her manager said, in a statement shared with the Palestinian News Agency.

Following the announcement, tributes poured in from famous faces including Reese Witherspoon, Carol Vorderman, and even the Muppets.

“Raquel Welch, a legendary actress of film, television and stage, passed away peacefully early this morning after a short illness,” a statement from the family read.

The 82-year-old actress broke into Hollywood with her initial roles in One Million Years BC and Fantastic Voyage.

Her career has spanned more than 50 years, as she has starred in over 30 films and 50 television series and appearances. The Golden Globe winner, in recent years, has been involved in a very successful collection of wigs.”

Welch was born Joe Raquel Tejada in Chicago to Bolivian father Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo and American mother Josephine Sarah.

Raquel Welch leaves London for her Hollywood home after spending time in England filming One Million Years BC in the 1960s (PA)

She had a brother, James, and a sister, Gayle, and was raised Presbyterian.

She took the name of her first husband, James Welch, whom she married in 1959.

She began her career as a weather presenter for a San Diego television station before moving to Texas, where she modeled for Neiman Marcus and worked as a cocktail waitress.

Welch’s acting career began to take off after she landed small roles in A House Is Not a Home and the musical Roustabout, starring Elvis Presley, both released in 1964.

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Welch went on to star in a number of other films during the 1960s and 1970s, and in 1974 received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role as Constance de Bonacieux in The Three Musketeers.

She was later nominated a second time for her performance in the 1987 film Right To Die.

Welch’s other screen credits include portraying Kit Forrest, the love interest for Tony Rome – played by Frank Sinatra – in Lady In Cement, and named Myra Breckenridge in the 1970 film following the adventures of a transgender woman.

American actress and model rose to fame after starring in Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years BC (PA)

As a result of her success on screen, Welch became a sex symbol, gracing the cover of Playboy magazine in 1979.

She also made a guest appearance on the popular children’s TV show The Muppets in 1978.

Welch was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996, and flowers were laid at the site after news of her death broke.

Later in life, Welch branched out to create the Raquel Welch Wig Collection. Of her wig designs, Welch said, “Don’t make it anything but the best. Then make it even better.”

Welch also partnered with MAC cosmetics company in 2007, launching the line of cosmetics as one of her “beauty icons”.

After divorcing her first husband in 1964, Welch married three more times.

She left behind a son, Damon Welch, and a daughter, Latan “Tahni” Welch, who is also an actress.