James Westley Welch is best known as the first husband of actress Raquel Welch. The two met as teenagers at La Jolla High School in San Diego and later married in 1959. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1964, but they had two children together, Damon Welch and Tahnee Welch.
James lived a much more private life than his famous former wife. He worked at sea when he was young and was later reported to have moved into business. Raquel continued to speak about him decades after their divorce and described him as her first true love.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | James Westley Welch |
| Nickname | Jim |
| Year of birth | Reportedly 1940 |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Attended La Jolla High School |
| Early occupation | Tuna fisherman / worked on a tuna clipper |
| Known for | First husband of Raquel Welch |
| Ex-wife | Raquel Welch |
| Marriage | 1959–1964 |
| Children | Damon Welch and Latanne Rene “Tahnee” Welch |
| Mother | Tahnee Land |
| Reported siblings | Jan, Jerry, and Judy |
James Westley Welch’s Early Life
James Westley Welch was reportedly born in 1940 in San Diego, California. Little reliable information is available about his childhood.
His mother was named Tahnee Land. Some biography sources also report that James had three sisters named Jan, Jerry, and Judy.
One account says James was the stepson of the founder of Fed Mart Corporation. This reportedly made him one of the few boys at his high school who had regular access to a car. The name of his stepfather is not clearly established in the available sources.
His Education at La Jolla High School
James attended La Jolla High School in San Diego.
He played football while Raquel Welch, then known as Jo Raquel Tejada, was a cheerleader and honors student.
James reportedly dropped out during his senior year. He then left California and traveled on a tuna clipper to Peru.
His time at sea later led some sources to describe his profession as a tuna fisherman.
How James Westley Welch Met Raquel Welch
James met Raquel when they were around 15 years old.
Raquel later wrote in her 2010 memoir, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage, that she first noticed him in an American government class at La Jolla High School.
She described James as quiet, handsome, and attractive. She also recalled that she immediately became strongly interested in him.
Their teenage relationship was sometimes on and off. They attended dances, spent time together after football games, and went out for burgers and shakes.
Their song was reportedly Sam Cooke’s You Send Me.
Raquel later admitted that she had idealized James as a teenager. She saw him as her “Prince Charming,” even though she eventually realized they did not have much in common.
James Left School and Went to Sea
James was not as interested in academics as Raquel.
During his senior year, he left school and joined a tuna fishing vessel traveling to Peru.
Raquel continued communicating with him while he was away. James’ mother, Tahnee Land, also stayed in contact with her and kept her informed about him.
When James returned several months later, Raquel decided to continue their relationship seriously.
Marriage to Raquel Welch
James Westley Welch and Raquel Welch married in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1959.
One source gives their wedding date as May 8, 1959.
Raquel was 19 years old at the time. She had been attending San Diego State College on a scholarship and studying theater arts, but she left college before marrying James.
The marriage did not have the full support of Raquel’s family. Her mother was reportedly unhappy about the decision, while her father, Carlos Armando Tejada, strongly opposed it.
James’ mother, Tahnee Land, reportedly approved of the marriage.
Their Early Married Life
James and Raquel lived in a small apartment in Pacific Beach, San Diego.
Raquel later recalled that both were still very young and learning how to manage married life. James was looking for work while she handled household responsibilities and began taking modeling and television jobs.
Raquel worked as a weather presenter and continued trying to build an entertainment career.
As her opportunities increased, differences between the couple became more serious. Raquel wanted to pursue acting and eventually move toward a larger entertainment career, while James reportedly had different plans for their family life.
James and Raquel Welch’s Children
James Westley Welch and Raquel had two children.
Their son, Damon Welch, was born on November 6, 1959, only months after their marriage.
Their daughter, Latanne Rene “Tahnee” Welch, was born on December 26, 1961. She was reportedly named after James’ mother, Tahnee Land.
Both children later worked in entertainment.
Damon has been credited as an actor, producer, writer, and director. His known credits include The Day the Earth Got Stoned and Raquel: Total Beauty and Fitness. He reportedly studied communications at Boston University.
Tahnee became a model and actress. She appeared in films including Cocoon, Sleeping Beauty, Search and Destroy, and I Shot Andy Warhol.
Their Separation and Divorce
James and Raquel reportedly separated in 1962.
Raquel later wrote that she felt the only way to fully end the relationship was to leave San Diego. She moved to Los Angeles with Damon and Tahnee and focused on building an acting career.
Their divorce was finalized in 1964.
Raquel later said that their age and lack of experience contributed to the failure of the marriage. She also expressed regret about how the separation affected James and their children.
Despite the divorce, she continued using the surname Welch throughout her professional and personal life.
James Westley Welch’s Career
James’ early work is connected to commercial fishing. He worked aboard a tuna clipper and traveled to Peru while still young.
One later report suggests that his career changed significantly.
By 1973, James was described as the president of a multimillion-dollar conglomerate. The available sources do not clearly identify the company, so details about this part of his career remain limited.
There is also no reliable information about his later employment, retirement, or current business activities.
His Relationship With Raquel After Divorce
James Westley Welch and Raquel reportedly went about 15 years without seeing each other after their separation.
In 1977, James contacted Raquel and arranged a meeting.
Their discussion reportedly focused mainly on Damon and Tahnee and their futures. The two did not spend much time discussing their past marriage.
Raquel was pleased that James had done well for himself, while James was reportedly proud of her success in Hollywood.
In a 1973 account, James acknowledged that he had not always treated Raquel well. He also said their marriage had been happy at times and described them as young people who had been in love.
Raquel Welch Always Considered Him Her First Love
Raquel Welch became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actresses through films including One Million Years B.C., Fantastic Voyage, and The Three Musketeers.
She married three more times after James, to Patrick Curtis, André Weinfeld, and Richard Palmer.
However, James continued to hold an important place in her memories.
In Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage, she called him her first true love and said later relationships were often judged against what she had felt for him.
Raquel died on February 15, 2023, at the age of 82 after a short illness.
Did James Westley Welch Remarry?
There is no reliable public information confirming whether James Westley Welch remarried after his divorce from Raquel Welch.
No later spouse or long-term partner has been clearly documented in the available sources.
There are also no publicly confirmed reports that he had additional children.
James Westley Welch’s Net Worth
James Westley Welch’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
The report that he became president of a multimillion-dollar conglomerate suggests that he may have had a successful business career, but that does not establish his personal wealth.
Specific net-worth figures found on biography websites should therefore be treated as estimates unless supported by financial records.
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Interesting Facts
- James Westley Welch was Raquel Welch’s first husband.
- His nickname is Jim.
- He reportedly was born in San Diego in 1940.
- He met Raquel Welch at La Jolla High School when they were teenagers.
- James played football, while Raquel was a cheerleader.
- He dropped out of high school and worked aboard a tuna clipper.
- He and Raquel married in Las Vegas in 1959.
- They separated in 1962 and divorced in 1964.
- Their children are Damon Welch and Tahnee Welch.
- Tahnee was reportedly named after James’ mother, Tahnee Land.
- Raquel kept the surname Welch after their divorce.
- James was reportedly leading a multimillion-dollar conglomerate by 1973.
- James and Raquel reportedly met again in 1977 after about 15 years apart.
- Raquel continued to describe James as her first true love decades after their marriage ended.
- His current relationship status, residence, net worth, and whether he is still living have not been reliably confirmed.
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