James Westley Welch: The Story of Raquel Welch’s First Husband

James Westley Welch is best known as the first husband of legendary actress Raquel Welch. The couple met as teenagers at La Jolla High School in San Diego and began a relationship long before Raquel became a Hollywood star. They married in 1959, welcomed two children, and eventually divorced in 1964.

While Raquel went on to become one of the most recognizable actresses of her generation, James largely stayed away from the entertainment spotlight. His early life included working aboard a tuna fishing vessel, while later reports connected him with business. Much of his personal life remained private, making his story less documented than that of his famous former wife.

Profile Summary

James Westley Welch’s Early Life

James Westley Welch was reportedly born in 1940 in San Diego, California. Information about his childhood is limited, but his early years were closely connected to the San Diego area, where he later met Raquel Welch.

His mother was named Tahnee Land, and some biographical accounts have also listed three siblings: Jan, Jerry and Judy. One account described James as the stepson of the founder of Fed Mart Corporation, although details about his stepfather are limited.

James grew up during a period when San Diego was becoming an important coastal community. His early interests eventually led him away from traditional schooling and toward work at sea.

His School Years at La Jolla High School

James attended La Jolla High School, where he played football. At the same school was Jo Raquel Tejada, the woman who would later become internationally known as Raquel Welch.

Raquel was a cheerleader and honors student, while James was known for his athletic interests. Their paths crossed while they were teenagers, and their relationship eventually developed into a serious romance.

James reportedly left high school during his senior year. Instead of continuing his education, he went to work aboard a tuna fishing vessel that traveled toward Peru. This experience later became part of the limited public record about his early career.

How James Westley Welch Met Raquel Welch

James and Raquel met when they were around 15 years old at La Jolla High School. Raquel later wrote about their teenage relationship in her memoir Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage.

According to her memories, she first noticed James during an American government class. She found him attractive and became interested in him. Their relationship included school dances, dates and time together after football games.

The couple reportedly shared a favorite song, Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me.” Their teenage romance continued through periods when James was away at sea.

Raquel later reflected on how strongly she viewed James when she was young. She had imagined him as an ideal romantic partner, although their differences became more apparent as they grew older.

James Left School and Worked at Sea

James was reportedly less interested in academics than Raquel. During his senior year, he left school and joined a tuna clipper traveling to Peru.

Raquel remained interested in him while he was away. His mother, Tahnee Land, also stayed in contact with Raquel and reportedly kept her informed about James.

After several months, James returned. Their relationship continued, and Raquel eventually decided that she wanted to build a future with him.

This period took place before Raquel had begun her Hollywood career. At the time, their relationship was primarily a private teenage romance rather than a celebrity story.

James Westley Welch and Raquel’s Wedding

James and Raquel married in Las Vegas in 1959. One reported date for their wedding is May 8, 1959.

Raquel was 19 years old when they married. She had been attending San Diego State College on a scholarship and studying theater arts, but she left college before or around the time of her marriage.

Their decision to marry reportedly created tension within Raquel’s family. Her mother was unhappy about the marriage, while her father, Carlos Armando Tejada, strongly opposed it. James’s mother, however, reportedly supported the couple.

The marriage marked the beginning of a new chapter for both of them. Raquel was still at the beginning of her journey, while James was trying to establish his own working life.

Their Early Married Life

After their wedding, James and Raquel lived in a small apartment in Pacific Beach, San Diego.

Both were very young, and they had to adjust to the responsibilities of marriage. James looked for work while Raquel began exploring opportunities that could eventually lead her into entertainment.

Raquel worked as a weather presenter and took modeling and television opportunities. She was also interested in acting and wanted to develop a career in the industry.

As her ambitions grew, the couple faced different ideas about their future. Raquel wanted to pursue acting and eventually move toward Los Angeles, while James reportedly had different expectations for married life.

James Westley Welch’s Children

James and Raquel had two children during their marriage.

Their son, Damon Welch, was born on November 6, 1959. He arrived only months after his parents married.

Their daughter, Latanne Rene “Tahnee” Welch, was born on December 26, 1961. She was reportedly named after James’s mother, Tahnee Land.

Both children later developed connections to the entertainment industry. Damon worked as an actor, producer, writer and director, while Tahnee became a model and actress.

Tahnee appeared in movies including Cocoon, Sleeping Beauty, Search and Destroy and I Shot Andy Warhol. Her career gave the Welch family another connection to Hollywood.

Why Did James Westley Welch and Raquel Welch Divorce?

James and Raquel reportedly separated in 1962, several years after their marriage. Their divorce was finalized in 1964.

Raquel later reflected on the relationship in her memoir and described how difficult it was to end a marriage that had started when she was so young. She eventually moved to Los Angeles with Damon and Tahnee and concentrated on building her acting career.

The couple’s different ambitions played an important role in the direction their lives took. Raquel wanted to establish herself in Hollywood, while their marriage was no longer working in the way they had hoped.

Despite the divorce, Raquel continued using the Welch surname throughout her career.

James Westley Welch’s Career

James’s earliest reported occupation was connected to the sea. He worked aboard a tuna clipper and traveled to Peru when he was young.

Later reports described a significant change in his professional life. By 1973, James was reportedly the president of a multimillion-dollar conglomerate.

However, the available information does not clearly identify the company or provide extensive details about his business activities. As a result, his later career remains much less documented than Raquel’s Hollywood work.

His professional life appears to have remained largely separate from the entertainment industry.

James and Raquel After Their Divorce

After their divorce, James and Raquel reportedly spent many years apart. According to accounts about their relationship, they went roughly 15 years without seeing each other.

In 1977, James contacted Raquel and arranged a meeting. Their conversation reportedly focused mainly on their children, Damon and Tahnee, rather than revisiting their failed marriage.

The meeting allowed them to reconnect as parents and former partners. Raquel was reportedly pleased that James had done well, while James was proud of the success she had achieved in Hollywood.

Their later relationship appears to have been shaped more by their shared history and children than by their former marriage.

Raquel Welch Remembered James as Her First Love

Raquel Welch went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Her breakthrough came through films such as Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years B.C., followed by major roles in movies including The Three Musketeers.

She married three more times after James, but her first marriage remained an important part of her personal history.

In her memoir, Raquel described James as her first true love and reflected on how strongly she had felt about him when they were young. Their relationship began before fame, when they were simply two teenagers growing up in San Diego.

Raquel died on February 15, 2023, at age 82 after a short illness.

Did James Westley Welch Remarry?

Information about James’s life after his divorce is limited.

There is no detailed public record establishing a later marriage or long-term relationship. His life after Raquel largely remained outside celebrity media.

Likewise, the strongest documented family connection remains his two children with Raquel, Damon and Tahnee.

James Westley Welch’s Net Worth

James Westley Welch’s personal net worth has not been established through reliable financial records.

Reports about his business career have described him as the president of a multimillion-dollar conglomerate in the 1970s. However, that description does not provide enough information to calculate his personal wealth.

For that reason, online net-worth figures should be treated carefully. Raquel Welch’s earnings and wealth also cannot be used as an indication of James’s personal finances.

James Westley Welch’s Social Media and Private Life

James has largely stayed away from public attention. There is no widely established public social-media presence associated with him.

Unlike Raquel, who spent decades appearing in films, television programs, interviews and public events, James lived outside the entertainment industry.

That privacy has also meant that relatively little information is available about his later lifestyle, career and personal activities.

James Westley Welch’s Connection to Raquel Welch’s Legacy

James remains an important figure in Raquel Welch’s personal story because he knew her before she became famous.

Their relationship began during high school, continued through marriage and parenthood, and eventually ended before Raquel’s Hollywood career reached its peak.

While Raquel became a global film star, James followed a much quieter path. Their two children, Damon and Tahnee, later became part of the entertainment world, creating another connection between James’s family and Hollywood.

Final Thoughts

James Westley Welch is remembered primarily as Raquel Welch’s first husband and teenage sweetheart. The two met at La Jolla High School, married in 1959 and had two children, Damon and Tahnee, before divorcing in 1964.

James’s life after the marriage remained largely private. His early work as a tuna fisherman and later reported involvement in business provide some insight into his career, but many details of his later years have never received the same public attention as Raquel’s life.

For Raquel Welch, James represented an important chapter that began before fame, Hollywood and international recognition. Their relationship started with a teenage romance in San Diego and eventually became the first marriage in the life of one of Hollywood’s most memorable stars.

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FAQs

Who was James Westley Welch?

James Westley Welch was Raquel Welch’s first husband and teenage sweetheart. They met at La Jolla High School in San Diego.

When did James Westley Welch marry Raquel Welch?

James and Raquel Welch married in 1959, with May 8, 1959, reported as their wedding date.

How many children did James Westley Welch and Raquel Welch have?

They had two children, Damon Welch and Tahnee Welch.

When did James Westley Welch and Raquel Welch divorce?

The couple separated in 1962, and their divorce was finalized in 1964.

What did James Westley Welch do for a living?

James reportedly worked aboard a tuna clipper when he was young. Later, he was reported to have become president of a multimillion-dollar conglomerate.

Did James Westley Welch remarry?

Available biographical information does not provide a detailed record of a later marriage after his divorce from Raquel Welch.