James Westley Welch came to the limelight after marrying the renowned American actress Raquel Welch.
You’d probably recognize her for her iconic role as Constance de Bonacieux in The Three Musketeers. With her talent and beauty, she managed to snatch various awards throughout her career.
So you’re probably thinking: How did they meet? And where are they now? That’s what we’ll tell you in this article!
Keep on reading to learn everything about James and Raquel Welch.
James Westley Welch’s Family and Early Life
Welch was born on January 29, 1937, in Missouri.
His father Hiriam Joseph Welch passed away in 1991. We don’t have a lot of information about his mother Doris Latanne Hilburn.
We don’t know a lot about his early life. What we do know is he started working as a tuna fisherman. But he managed to pursue his dreams and became a publicist and an agent.
Interestingly, when James was in high school he had a huge crush on this gorgeous girl. You guessed it right! That girl was Raquel.
James and Raquel Welch’s Relationship
James and Raquel started dating in high school. It felt like a match made in heaven, so they decided to tie the knot on May 8, 1959.
Fun Fact: James and Raquel were attending San Diego State College together at the time of the wedding.
After the Marriage
Raquel Welch with Damon Welch
Shortly after the wedding, James and Raquel welcomed their first child, Damon Welch. He was born in 1959, in California.
As of 2023, Damon is 64 years old.
Damon decided to follow in his parents’ footsteps by working in showbiz, as he was an actor by profession.
Two years after Damon’s birth, the couple welcomed their second child: Tahnee Rene. Tahnee was also an actress and a model!
The sad thing is that James and Raquel decided to end things in 1962. The divorce was finalized in 1964 and it seems like they’ve tried everything to save their marriage but couldn’t.
What Happened to James Westley Welch?
Raquel Welch with Patrick Curtis Image source: Google
After the divorce, things went pretty well for James. He started working as a real estate developer, which helped him build his empire.
James became a multimillionaire and married a woman named Jean. Rumor has it that they had a son together, but we don’t have any information regarding this marriage.
Raquel also went on to see other people, and she married producer Patrick Curtis in 1967. The couple decided to end their marriage in 1972 though.
What’s sadder is that James Westley Welch passed away on November 23, 2019.
Wrapping Up
James Westley Welch was Raquel Welch’s first husband. They had two children together: Damon and Tahnee. Sadly, they decided to get divorced in 1962.