James Westley Welch: The Man Behind the Name Raquel Welch Never Let Go

Not many people know the name James Westley Welch. He never starred in movies, never chased fame, and never gave a single interview. But he was the first man to win the heart of Hollywood icon Raquel Welch — and the only man whose name she carried for the rest of her life. This is his full story, from their teenage romance to his quiet death in 2019, and why Raquel never stopped thinking about him.

Who Was James Westley Welch?

James Westley Welch, known simply as Jim, was born on January 29, 1937, in Pike County, Missouri. He grew up far from Hollywood — in a simple home, with a quiet personality and no desire for the spotlight. He had dark hair, green eyes, and a calm presence that people noticed immediately.

He was not an actor. He was not a celebrity in any traditional sense. He was, at his core, a hardworking and private man who happened to share his name and his heart with one of the most famous women who ever lived. He worked as a publicist and agent before eventually building a career in real estate development, where he quietly accumulated an estimated net worth of around $40 million.

Most of the world only knows James Westley Welch as Raquel Welch’s ex-husband. But there was far more to him than that one sentence — a full life, a second family, and a story worth telling on its own terms.

James Westley Welch — Quick Bio at a Glance

His Love Story with Raquel Welch

James and Raquel Welch met when they were just 15 years old, sitting in an American government class at La Jolla High School in San Diego, California. Raquel later wrote in her 2010 memoir, Beyond the Cleavage, that from the moment she first noticed James she felt something different about him. She described him as calm, handsome, and — crucially for a teenager in the 1950s — he had his own car.

They shared rides to school and danced at school events. Their song was “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke. It was a classic American teenage love story, and for Raquel it felt like something permanent even then.

After high school, James made an unexpected move. He dropped out and took a job on a tuna boat in Peru. Raquel was devastated. They kept in touch through letters, with James’s mother acting as an informal go-between. When he returned home, Raquel had made up her mind. She left college, and the two of them ran off to Las Vegas to get married. She was 19 years old.

Their Marriage, Their Children, and How It Ended

The wedding took place on May 8, 1959. It was small and private — no celebrity guests, no cameras, and notably no approval from Raquel’s father, who disapproved of the match. They set up home together in a small apartment in Pacific Beach and started building a life on almost nothing.

Their son Damon Welch was born on November 6, 1959 — less than six months after the wedding. Their daughter Tahnee Welch arrived on December 26, 1961. Raquel named her daughter after James’s mother, Tahnee Land, a detail that speaks to how deeply she felt connected to his family during those years.

The marriage lasted five years. As Raquel’s ambitions grew — she wanted to act, to perform, to build something for herself — the gap between what she wanted and the quiet life James preferred began to widen. In 1962, she moved with the children to Los Angeles. The couple officially divorced in 1964. Raquel later said it was the most difficult decision she ever made.

Life After the Divorce — Who James Became

While Raquel went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, James quietly stepped back from everything connected to fame. He did not speak to the media. He did not trade on his connection to Raquel. He simply got on with his life.

He remarried a woman named Jean and had a third child, a son. He transitioned from his earlier work in publicity and agenting into real estate development, where he built genuine and lasting success. By most estimates, his net worth at its peak reached approximately $40 million — earned through decades of careful, unglamorous work rather than any kind of celebrity association.

In 1977, James reached out to Raquel for the first time in fifteen years. Their reunion was not romantic. It was about their children — Damon and Tahnee — and about finding a way to be civil and supportive co-parents even across the distance of years and diverged lives. Raquel later described the meeting as peaceful and said she was glad to see he was well.

Raquel Welch, Body Art, and the Icons Who Shaped Tattoo Culture

Raquel Welch occupies a specific place in the history of body imagery and beauty culture in America. Her image — particularly the fur bikini poster from the 1966 film One Million Years B.C. — became one of the most reproduced pieces of visual art of the twentieth century. That single photograph was printed on more surfaces, more clothing, and more skin-related memorabilia than almost any image of its era.

It is no coincidence that Raquel’s image became a touchstone for tattoo culture specifically. Her portrait has been tattooed on more bodies than most people realise — a testament to the kind of lasting visual power her image carried. Tattoo artists have long cited pin-up icons from her era as foundational references for the American traditional and neo-traditional styles that remain popular today.

For anyone interested in the connection between celebrity culture, body art, and skin as a canvas, the story of icons like Raquel Welch is deeply relevant. If you are thinking about commemorating something meaningful on your own skin, our guide on what to use for tattoo aftercare covers everything you need to protect a new piece from day one. For those navigating the healing stages, our day-by-day healing guide is the most complete resource available. The TattooGleam home page has the full library.

Death, Legacy, and the Name He Left Behind

James Westley Welch died on November 23, 2019, from natural causes. He was 82 years old — the same age Raquel Welch would be when she died just over three years later, in February 2023. His death was not covered widely by the press. There was no Hollywood tribute. That was exactly as he would have wanted it.

His legacy lives most visibly through his children. Damon Welch became a writer, director, and actor, known for his work on documentary projects including I Am Raquel Welch. Tahnee Welch pursued modelling and acting, appearing in Cocoon and Sleeping Beauty, and carrying her father’s quiet grace into a public life.

The detail most people find striking is this: Raquel Welch was born Jo Raquel Tejada. She took the name Welch when she married James in 1959, and she never gave it back. Not after the divorce. Not after three subsequent marriages. She died as Raquel Welch — carrying the name of the first man she ever loved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Note: This article is a biographical piece for informational purposes. All facts are drawn from publicly available sources including Raquel Welch’s 2010 memoir Beyond the Cleavage and published interviews. For tattoo aftercare guides and healing resources, visit tattoogleam.com.