Jason James Richter
Biography
Jason James Richter, born January 29, 1980, in Medford, Oregon, United States, is an American male actor and musician. He gained prominence for portraying Jesse, the boy who befriends the orca Willy, in the Free Willy film series. According to the Motion Picture Database, his professional credits total twenty‑six entries, and his primary occupation is listed as acting. Richter’s gender is recorded as male, and his birthdate places him at forty‑six years of age. The database identifies him as known for acting, without additional aliases. No further personal or career details are provided in the cited sources.
Career overview
Jason James Richter, born on January 29, 1980, in Medford, Oregon, United States, is an American male actor and musician. His professional profile lists acting as his primary occupation, with a total of twenty‑six credited roles across both film and television formats. Richter first achieved widespread recognition for portraying Jesse, the young boy who befriends the captive orca Willy, in the Free Willy film series. This role remains identified as his most notable contribution to cinema.
Beyond the Free Willy franchise, Richter’s career has continued to encompass a variety of screen appearances, as reflected in his extensive list of credited performances. The breadth of his work includes participation in multiple movie productions as well as television series, demonstrating a sustained presence in the entertainment industry. While his public records emphasize his acting achievements, they also acknowledge his involvement in music, indicating a dual artistic focus. Throughout his career, Richter has maintained a profile that highlights both his early breakthrough and his ongoing contributions to film and television, underscoring a professional trajectory that spans more than two decades.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Final Heist (2024)
- Life After the NeverEnding Story (2024) as Self
- Natty Knocks (2023) as Detective Leo Squares
- Natty Knocks (2023) Producer
- Nothing to See Here (2023) as Daniel
- The Little Things (2021) as Detective Dennis Williams
- Last Call (2021) as Saville
- Dolphin Boy (2021)
- The Brawler (2019) as John
- Ghost in the Graveyard (2019) as Deputy T
- High & Outside: A Baseball Noir (2018) as Johnny
- Driver (2018) as Alexander Hutchins
- Inhumane (2018) as Dr. Aaron Graybor
- 818 (2018) as Alex
- Last Rampage (2017) as Brawley
- Vicious (2016) as Jeff
- Vicious (2016) Producer
- Bones (2005) as Clown #2
- Ricochet River (2001) as Wade
- Free Willy 3: The Rescue (1997) as Jesse
- Laserhawk (1997) as Zach Raymond
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996) as Dante
- Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995) as Jesse
- The NeverEnding Story III (1994) as Bastian Bux
- Cops & Robbersons (1994) as Kevin Robberson
- Free Willy (1993) as Jesse
- The Stolen Child
- The Last Days of Belle Starr as Estus McEvoy