Researchers find that the star of 'Free Willy' should not have been released. April 28, 2009— -- Willy was never really free. The killer whale star of the Hollywood movie Free Willy had to be ...

Richter played Glen's foster son, Jesse, in the 1993 film Jason James Richter is mourning his on-screen father figure. The actor, who played Jesse in 1993's Free Willy , shared a message on his ...

I don’t know precisely when I first watched Free Willy. But I do remember that the film was central to a childhood obsession with whales – orcas, specifically – that followed me well into adulthood.

Oregonians may have a special place in their hearts for Keiko, the killer whale that became famous because of the Oregon-filmed movie, “Free Willy,” and who later lived at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, ...

Wikie and Keijo, the two remaining captive orcas in France, are set to move soon, but if that move is to a sanctuary is still undecided Dave Phillips was one of the numerous whale experts who helped ...

Michael Madsen's death was confirmed to PEOPLE on Thursday, July 3 Michael Madsen, who played Glen in Free Willy, died on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 67 Costar Jason James Richter remembered sharing ...