WHALE I NEVER
Free Willy star unrecognisable as he celebrates 30 years of classic kids’ film
FREE Willy star Jason James Richter looks unrecognisable, 30 years after filming the classic kids' film.
Jason, 43, bore no resemblance to his 11-year-old self while celebrating the milestone on Australian TV.
3
3
The actor, who played Jesse in the 1993 blockbuster, stunned viewers of daytime show Today Extra with his moustache and beard.
He told presenters Sylvia Jeffreys and Tim Davies how excited he was to secure the role - but joked all his friends thought he was lying when he originally told them the news.
Jason said: "I was just about 11 years old. I ran through the neighbourhood to brag to all my friends.
"Nobody believed me until I left to go make the movie."
READ MORE ON FREE WILLY
The Oregon native even confessed he was frightened while filming scenes with killer whale, Keiko.
Jason has most recently starred in comedy-drama Last Call and psychological crime thriller, The Little Things.
Free Willy is a childhood classic that tells the heart-warming tale of a young boy and an orca whale that became best friends.
After he vandalised the theme park where Willy lived, orphan Jesse's life was turned around when he was ordered to work there as punishment.
Most read in Film
But the tearaway teen soon found redemption after he halted plans that would have seen the whale killed.
Jason went onto star in all three Free Willy films between the years of 1993 and 1997.
He took the role over 4,000 auditionees who desperately wanted the part as the heroic teen.
3