James Westley Welch: The Untold Story Of Raquel Welch's First Love

Long before she became an international sex symbol and silver-screen legend, Raquel Welch was just a teenager at La Jolla High School in San Diego falling in love with her classmate, James Westley Welch. While Raquel went on to star in blockbusters like One Million Years B.C. and earned global fame, James chose a quiet, private life far away from the flashing lights of Hollywood. Their high school romance, whirlwind marriage, and eventual separation marked a deeply foundational chapter in the actress's life—one that she looked back on with lingering fondness decades later.

Understanding who James Westley Welch was requires looking past tabloid summaries and examining the documented history of two young sweethearts whose paths collided before fame reshaped their destinies.

High School Sweethearts in San Diego

The story of James and Raquel began in the mid-1950s at La Jolla High School. Raquel, born Jo Raquel Tejada, was a popular cheerleader, while James was a standout student and athlete. According to Raquel's 2010 memoir, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage, meeting James felt like instant fate. They were both roughly fifteen years old when they crossed paths, and their connection quickly blossomed into an intense teenage romance.

Their courtship took place against the backdrop of post-war Southern California. They went to school dances, shared ordinary dates, and listened to the popular records of the era. In her memoir, Raquel described James as her "Prince Charming" and her very first true love, noting that his influence cast a long shadow over every romantic relationship she pursued later in life.

However, their young love faced immediate resistance. Raquel's father, Carlos Armando Tejada, strongly opposed the relationship and disapproved of her attachment to James. Despite her father's fury and her mother's reservations, Raquel remained deeply committed to building a future with James.

Marriage, Early Struggles, and Family

After finishing high school, the couple navigated the difficult transition into adulthood. James spent time working away from home, including a stint working on a tuna fishing boat, while the two maintained their bond through letters. Determined to start their lives together, Raquel left college.

On May 8, 1959, James and Raquel married in a small, private ceremony in Las Vegas. They entered marriage with very few financial resources, renting a modest apartment and scraping by. James focused on finding steady work, while Raquel took on small modeling gigs and worked briefly as a local television weather presenter to help pay the bills.

The young family grew rapidly with the arrival of their two children:

• Damon Welch, born on November 6, 1959.
• Latanne Rene "Tahnee" Welch, who later followed her mother into acting and modeling.

Raising two infants under tight financial constraints placed immense pressure on the young marriage. At the same time, Raquel's ambitions toward acting and modeling began to pull her toward a vastly different professional sphere.

Divorce and the Path to Hollywood Stardom

As the 1960s progressed, the fundamental differences in their aspirations became apparent. James preferred stability, privacy, and a normal working-class or business career, whereas Raquel felt a powerful pull toward the entertainment industry.

The couple separated in 1962, and their divorce was finalized in 1964. The split was emotionally painful for both parties. Raquel later admitted in interviews and her memoirs that leaving James was one of the most agonizing decisions of her life, acknowledging the heavy toll the breakup took on their young family.

Following the divorce, Raquel packed up her children and moved temporarily to Dallas, Texas, where she worked grueling hours as a cocktail waitress and department store model to make ends meet before returning to California to jumpstart the career that turned her into an international icon. Remarkably, despite her subsequent marriages to Patrick Curtis, André Weinfeld, and Richard Palmer, Raquel chose to keep the last name Welch for the remainder of her life and career.

Life Away from the Spotlight

Unlike his former wife, James Westley Welch steadfastly avoided the public eye. He did not seek out media attention, capitalized in no way on Raquel's rising fame, and carved out a quiet, private existence. Over the subsequent decades, he worked in private business ventures, including public relations and real estate development.

Because James deliberately shunned celebrity culture, much of his later life remains undocumented by mainstream media. Reports indicate he remarried and built a quiet family life away from the cameras. When Raquel Welch passed away in February 2023 at the age of 82, retrospectives on her storied life inevitably circled back to James—not as a Hollywood footnote, but as the enduring symbol of her youth and her first true love.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did James Westley Welch remarry after his divorce from Raquel?

Yes. After his separation and divorce from Raquel Welch, James chose a private path out of the public view and later married and raised a family away from Hollywood circles.

Why did James and Raquel divorce?

Their divorce stemmed from shifting life goals. While James valued a quiet, grounded family life, Raquel felt an intense calling to pursue a professional career in acting and modeling, which ultimately pulled them in opposite directions.

What happened to their children?

Their son, Damon Welch, and their daughter, Tahnee Welch, both grew up away from the immediate chaos of early Hollywood child-rearing. Tahnee Welch carved out a successful career as an actress and model, appearing in films like Cocoon.

Why did Raquel Welch keep her first husband's last name?

Raquel retained the surname Welch throughout her legendary career because she established her early professional identity under that moniker before achieving global superstardom.