Quick Facts
Biography
Jason James Richter (born January 29, 1980) is an American actor, most commonly known for his role in the Free Willy series as Jesse, the boy who befriends Willy.
Early life
Richter was born in Medford, Oregon, the son of Sandy, an actress, and Greg Richter, who was in the U.S. Navy. At the age of three, he and his family moved to Hawaii, where a Japanese casting agency discovered him and signed him up for three TV spots. In 1989, his family moved back to Los Angeles, where he could pursue his career.
Career
He starred in Free Willy in 1993, in which he was chosen out of more than 4,000 candidates to play the lead role of Jesse. Other movies 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 made a cameo appearance in the music video for Michael Jackson's "Childhood". His most recent film appearance was in Ricochet River, along with Kate Hudson.
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.
It has been claimed that he is an avid fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Filmography
Film
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Television
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Client | Chris Love | Season 1, Episode 15 - "The Morning After" | |
| Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Dante | Season 2, Episode 4 - Dante's Inferno | |
| Rugrats | Ringo / The Bull | Season 5, Episode 5 - "He Saw, She Saw / Piggy's Pizza Palace" | |
| Bones | Clown #2 | Season 4, Episode 12 - "Double Trouble in the Panhandle | |
| Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior | Matthew Keane | Season 1, Episode 8 - "Nighthawk" | |
| Life's a Pitch | Jimmy | Television film |
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)