What 'Free Willy' Child Star Jason James Richter Has Been Up to Ahead of the Film's 25th Anniversary
'Free Willy' Turns 25! Here's What Star Jason James Richter Is U…
Gabby Windey Teases What Fans Can Expect From 'DWTS' Tour (Exclu…
‘Sister Wives’: Kody Shares His Hopes for Christine and Janelle …
'Sister Wives': Robyn 'Struggles' With Living Monogamously With …
'90 Day Fiancé’: Michael Reveals Affair With Another American Wo…
'Seeking Brother Husband' Showcases Women Seeking Multiple Male …
Inside the ‘NCIS’ Crossover Event With OG, 'Hawaiʻi’ and ‘Los An…
'MILF Manor': First Look at TLC's New Dating Series (Exclusive)
Golden Globes: Why Jamie Lee Curtis Called Out Paul Walter Hause…
Mischa Barton and Rachel Bilson Tear Up Watching Marissa's Death…
Jessica Betts ‘So Proud of’ and ‘Constantly in Awe’ of Wife Niec…
Brad Pitt Reveals Surprising Hobby He Shares With Daughter Shiloh
Steven Spielberg Shares Surprising Secret Behind Ke Huy Quan's C…
'Golden Globes': Janelle James on Sitting Near Brad Pitt and 'Ab…
'Sister Wives' Star Meri Brown Calls Out Media for Misinformatio…
'Abbott Elementary': Gregory's Dad Comes to Town (Exclusive)
Brad Pitt Was the Most Popular Actor at 2023 Golden Globe Awards
Christine Taylor and David Lascher Revisit Their Secret 'Hey Dud…
'The Last Of Us' Showrunner Craig Mazin on Plans After Season 1 …
Two decades and a half after 1993's Free Willy made Jason James Richter a star at just 11 years old, Richter is still acting today.
2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the beloved film, which starred Richter as Jesse, a foster child who befriends a captive orca named Willy. Eventually, Jesse helps set Willy free after learning of a plot to kill the whale for his million-dollar insurance policy.
The film was an incredible hit, grossing more than $150 million worldwide.
Richer, who is now 38, starred in an number of films after Free Willy, including its sequels, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home and Free Willy 3: The Rescue. He also appeared on the small screen, making appearances on Bones, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Criminal Minds.
Richter is still acting today -- his projects this year include the upcoming Ghost in the Graveyard, Infidelity and 818. The actor is also active on Instagram, giving fans a look at what a grown-up Jesse looks like today.
Interestingly enough, the controversial captivity of killer whales -- and its possible dangers for both humans and mammals -- was brought back into the spotlight in 2013 thanks to the hit documentary Blackfish. Male orca whale Tilikum -- who was profiled in the film after he killed trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010 when he pulled her into the pool following a "Dine With Shamu" show at Seaworld -- died last January.
Watch below:
RELATED CONTENT:
SeaWorld Expands Killer Whale Environments After 'Blackfish', But Is It Enough?