James Westley Welch: Raquel Welch’s First Husband and Father of Her Children

James Westley Welch — better known as Jim Welch — isn’t a household name on his own. But as the first husband of Hollywood icon Raquel Welch and the father of her two children, he played a significant part in the early life of one of the most famous women of the 20th century. His story is one of a young marriage, early parenthood, and a quiet life that stood in sharp contrast to his ex-wife’s meteoric rise to fame.

It’s worth noting upfront: reliable details about Jim Welch’s life are limited. Much of what’s publicly available comes through the lens of Raquel’s career and interviews, and some facts — including his birth year — are contradicted across sources. We’ll flag those conflicts as they come up.

Early Life

The details of Jim Welch’s early years are sparse and sometimes contradictory. Some sources place his birth on January 29, 1937, while others suggest he was born around 1940. His birthplace is similarly disputed — he’s been linked to both San Diego, California and Pike, Missouri, depending on the source.

What does seem consistent is that Jim grew up in the San Diego area, where he’d eventually cross paths with a young Raquel Tejada. Before that, he reportedly worked as a tuna fisherman, which speaks to a practical, working-class upbringing far removed from the Hollywood world his future wife would soon inhabit.

There’s very little on record about his parents or siblings, and Jim himself never pursued public life in a way that would’ve filled in those gaps. He wasn’t someone who sought attention, and that pattern held throughout his life.

Marriage to Raquel Welch

Jim and Raquel Tejada met while they were both still teenagers in San Diego. According to various accounts, the two connected during a high school government class. They married in 1959, when Raquel was just 19 years old and still a student at San Diego State College.

The marriage was a young one in every sense. Both were still figuring out their lives, and Raquel hadn’t yet set her sights on Hollywood. For a brief window, they were just a young couple starting a family in Southern California.

But the marriage didn’t last. By 1964, the couple had divorced. Raquel has spoken in interviews about how the split came as she began pursuing acting more seriously. The pull of a career in entertainment created a divide that their young marriage couldn’t bridge. Jim, by most accounts, wasn’t interested in the Hollywood lifestyle — and Raquel was increasingly drawn to it.

Their divorce was finalized before Raquel’s breakout roles, meaning Jim stepped out of the picture just as her career was about to explode. Within two years of the split, Raquel starred in Fantastic Voyage (1966) and One Million Years B.C. (1966), cementing her status as a global star.

Their Children

Jim and Raquel had two children together during their marriage. Their son, Damon Welch, was born in 1959 — the same year they married. Their daughter, Latanne Welch, was born on December 26, 1961. She’d later go by the name Tahnee Welch and carve out her own career in modeling and acting.

Tahnee gained recognition in the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in films like Cocoon (1985) alongside Don Ameche and Wilford Brimley. She also had a successful modeling career in Europe. Damon, on the other hand, has kept a much lower profile and stayed largely out of the public eye.

After the divorce, Raquel retained primary custody of both children. How involved Jim remained in their upbringing isn’t well documented, though there’s no public record of estrangement or conflict. Both children carried the Welch surname throughout their lives.

Life After Divorce

Following his split from Raquel, Jim Welch returned to a private life. He reportedly went back to fishing and later worked as a publicist and agent, though the specifics of his professional career are thin. He wasn’t someone who gave interviews or sought media coverage.

While Raquel went on to marry three more times — to Patrick Curtis (1967–1972), Andre Weinfeld (1980–1990), and Richard Palmer (1999–2004) — Jim’s post-divorce romantic life stayed out of the press entirely. Whether he remarried or had other long-term relationships isn’t part of the public record.

This kind of obscurity is unusual for someone connected to such a major celebrity, but it seems to have been deliberate. Jim Welch simply wasn’t interested in fame, and he didn’t trade on his connection to Raquel to build a public persona.

Personal Life

Jim Welch passed away on November 23, 2019, at what was likely his early 80s (though his exact age at death depends on which birth year you accept). His death didn’t generate major headlines, which is consistent with the private life he’d led for decades.

Raquel Welch herself passed away on February 15, 2023, at the age of 82, after a brief illness. Her death brought renewed attention to her life story — including her first marriage to Jim. In obituaries and tributes, he was mentioned as the father of her children and as a chapter in her early life before stardom.

It’s fair to say that Jim Welch’s legacy is inextricably linked to Raquel’s. He doesn’t have a filmography or a public body of work to point to. But he was part of the foundation of Raquel’s life — a young husband and father during the years before everything changed for her. That counts for something, even if it doesn’t come with a spotlight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was James Westley Welch?

James Westley Welch, commonly known as Jim Welch, was the first husband of actress Raquel Welch. They married in 1959 and divorced in 1964. He’s primarily known as the father of Raquel’s two children, Damon and Tahnee Welch.

How did Jim Welch and Raquel Welch meet?

They met as teenagers in San Diego, reportedly in a high school government class. They married when Raquel was 19 and still attending San Diego State College.

What happened to Jim Welch after the divorce?

Jim returned to a quiet, private life. He reportedly worked in fishing and later as a publicist and agent. He stayed out of the media spotlight for the rest of his life.

When did James Westley Welch die?

Jim Welch passed away on November 23, 2019. The circumstances of his death were not widely reported.

Who are Jim and Raquel Welch’s children?

They had two children: Damon Welch (born 1959) and Latanne “Tahnee” Welch (born 1961). Tahnee went on to become a model and actress, while Damon has kept a low profile.

Related Celebrities

• Raquel Welch — Jim’s ex-wife and one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the 1960s and 1970s
• Tahnee Welch — Their daughter, known for her role in Cocoon and her modeling career
• Damon Welch — Their son, who has lived a private life away from the entertainment industry
• Patrick Curtis — Raquel’s second husband, a producer and manager who helped shape her early career