Jason James Richter
Jason James Richter (born January 29, 1980)[1] is an American actor and musician, most commonly known for his role in the Free Willy film series as Jesse, the boy who befriends Willy the orca.[1]
Jason James Richter | |
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Born | Medford, Oregon, U.S. | January 29, 1980
Occupation | Actor, musician |
Years active | 1993–present |
Early life
Richter was born in Medford, Oregon,[1] the son of Sandra "Sandy" Montgomery, an actress, and Gregory Lynn Richter, who was in the U.S. Navy.[2] At the age of three, he and his family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where a Japanese casting agency discovered him and signed him up for three TV spots. In 1989, his family moved back to the mainland San Diego, California.
Career
Richter starred as Jesse in Free Willy (1993), a role for which he was chosen out of more than 4,000 candidates.[3] His other films include Cops & Robbersons, The NeverEnding Story III, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, Laserhawk, Free Willy 3: The Rescue, and The Setting Son. He also reprised his role as Jesse in the music video for Michael Jackson's "Childhood", which was featured in Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home. His latest film appearance was in The Little Things.
Between the Free Willy roles, he had TV guest roles on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and The Client.
He was the bassist for the band Fermata.[4]
Personal life
In October 2018, Richter was arrested in the United States on Monday, charged with domestic violence. He was accused by his girlfriend after an argument and two days later he was released after posting a bail of $ 20,000.
Filmography
Film
Title | Year | Role | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Free Willy | Jesse | Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film − (tied with Edward Furlong for A Home of Our Own) Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss − (shared with Keiko) Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance | |
Cops and Robbersons | Kevin Robberson | ||
The Neverending Story III | Bastian | ||
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home | Jesse | ||
Laserhawk | Zach Raymond | ||
Free Willy 3: The Rescue | Jesse | ||
The Setting Son | Big Bully | ||
Ricochet River | Wade | ||
Tekken | Bonner's Associate | Additionally served as assistant director | |
Inhumane | Dr. Aaron Graybor | ||
Vicious | Jeff | Additionally serving as producer | |
High and Outside | Johnny | ||
3 Solitude | Elliot | ||
Last Rampage | Link Brawley | ||
The Brawler | John Olson | ||
The Little Things | Detective Dennis Williams |
Television
Title | Year | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Movie Magic | 1995 | Himself | Episode: "Aqua Animatronics" |
The Client | Chris Love | Episode: "The Morning After" | |
Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Dante | Episode: "Dante's Inferno" | |
Rugrats | Ringo / The Bull | Episode: "He Saw, She Saw / Piggy's Pizza Palace" | |
Mega Movie Magic | 2001 | Himself (archive footage) | Episode: "Free Willy 2 / Independence Day" |
Bones | Clown No. 2 | credited as Jason Richter; Episode: "Double Trouble in the Panhandle" | |
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior | Matthew Keane | Episode: "Nighthawk" | |
Life's a Pitch | Jimmy | Television film |
Music videos
Year | Title | Role | Artist | Director |
---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | "Childhood" | Jesse | Michael Jackson | Nicholas Brandt |
Additional credits
- The Quiet Loud (2013) ... Paul (short film; directed, produced and written by)
- Remember the Sultana (2015) ... Erastus Winters, Cpl William Norton, Pvt. John Zazier (documentary film; voice)
References
- Baker, Jeff (April 30, 2014). "17 actors you (maybe) didn't know were from Oregon". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- "Jason James Richter Biography (1980–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- Tom Gliatto (August 14, 1995). "Prince of Whales". People. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- laura (January 25, 2008). "Where Are They Now? Jason James Richter – The Modern Age". Themodernage.org. Retrieved April 22, 2018.