Richie Palmer Is a Successful Restaurateur & Raquel Welch's Ex-husband

Richie Palmer's interest in cooking led him to fall in love with pizza, which he grew into a business. However, his passion goes beyond cheesy pies, as he has also become known for his romantic relationships with high-profile women.

Renowned restaurateur Richie Palmer's rise from humble beginnings to building his own pizza empire is just as fascinating as his romantic life.

While growing his business, he crossed paths with several prominent women in show business, one of which he secretly married. He also formed enduring friendships with famous stars along the way.

Although Palmer may be recognized as late actress Raquel Welch's former husband, he has also established himself as a flourishing restaurateur and an actor.

In addition, Palmer's romantic interests extend beyond his marriage to Welch, as he has been linked to other famous women: a model, an actress, and a former wife to a late musician.

Richie Palmer Got His First Job at Age 14

Palmer, born in the Bronx, New York, in 1954, is 14 years younger than Welch, born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1940. Palmer's journey toward success is built firmly on hard work and determination.

At 14, Palmer landed his first job as a cook at a steakhouse near his family home in Mahopac. Cooking came naturally to him, and the kitchen quickly became his familiar territory.

Palmer's mother, who was an excellent cook and frequently made delicious meals for the family, was the one who first inspired his love of cooking. He recalled being fascinated with the process while observing his mother in the kitchen.

At age 10, his mother taught him to make mashed potatoes, meatballs, steak omelets, and marinara sauce. His mom's informal culinary lessons led him to believe that his destiny lay in pizza.

Although he initially ran a club, Palmer always dreamed of having his own restaurant. He found a boarded-up store with a beautiful brick oven, hired a local kid to clean, and a gas burner company to install gas jets.

Palmer opened Modern Pizzeria in 1987, using what his mom taught him and what he liked from other restaurants he visited. Later, he sold his club and restaurant, relocated to Los Angeles, and co-founded a new pizza place.

Richie Palmer Has Been Associated with Several Famous Women

Palmer's rise to fame is attributed to his high-profile relationships with several renowned women. Actress Cathy Moriarty was his former girlfriend. They co-founded the iconic Mulberry Street Pizzeria in Beverly Hills, California.

In 1996, Palmer and Welch crossed paths at a party, and she was captivated by Palmer's good looks at their first encounter.

Palmer also exchanged vows with Leilani Dowding, an English model and TV personality. In 2011, Dowding revealed in an interview on the dating show "Tough Love Miami" that they were secretly married.

Palmer and Dowding's marriage and split were unclear. But Dowding stated that she was the one who initiated the divorce, and despite his assumption that she would seek a large financial settlement, she declined any such offer.

However, because of their age gap, she was falsely accused of being a gold digger. Dowding clarified that her former husband was kind even if they were no longer together. She said in the interview:

"My ex-husband was amazing and such a gentlemen [sic]. But he didn't want kids and I did. That is why we didn't work out."

From 2010 to 2011, Palmer briefly dated actress and businesswoman Priscilla Presley, the former wife of the legendary King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.

Palmer's famous romantic relationships led him to form friendships with distinguished actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, and Sylvester Stallone.

Richie Palmer and Raquel Welch's Marriage Lasted 4 Years

In 1996, Palmer and Welch crossed paths at a party, and she was captivated by Palmer's good looks at their first encounter. Initially, she mistook him for an actor and worried that a relationship would not work between two actors.

Despite this, fate intervened, and the couple fell in love. They tied the knot in July 1999 with 100 guests, including Welch's two grown children, Damon and Tahnee, and Palmer's unnamed child, who was ten at the time, from a previous relationship.

During their marriage, Palmer often joked about the benefits of marrying a famous actress, including getting great seats at fights and the ability to go anywhere they wanted.

However, the pair reportedly split after four years of marriage in 2003. Their representative, Jill Bushinsky, stated that the couple had mutually and amicably decided to end their marriage.

Richie Palmer's Life after His Divorce from Raquel Welch

Even though Palmer got divorced, he kept his mind on running his popular pizzeria, which has continued to attract star-studded customers. Stallone, boxing legend Mike Tyson, and rapper Offset are his famous patrons.

Palmer has also embraced social media. He is active on Facebook. From what can be seen on his page, it appears that he is unmarried and enjoying a single life.

Meanwhile, Welch passed away in February 2023, leaving behind a legacy as one of Hollywood's most beloved actresses. She was 82. Palmer took to Facebook to pay tribute to his former wife.

In a heartfelt message, he thanked the public's outpouring of support. He wrote, "She was a wonderful woman and will hold a special place in my heart."

Palmer also sent his love and condolences to Welch's children and concluded his message by bidding a farewell to his beloved "Rocky," expressing the hope that they would be reunited someday.

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