Photo:Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Free Willywas released on July 16, 1993. The poignant film became an instant hit as it followed a young boy’s attempts to save a captive whale.
As the film celebrates its 30th anniversary, see what some of the cast of the originalFree Willyhave been up to.
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Jason James Richter: Jesse Greenwood
Jason James Richter.Paul Archuleta/Getty Images, Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Paul Archuleta/Getty Images, Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Since then, the now 43-year-old has continued to act, appearing in the originalSabrina the Teenage Witchas well as other hit shows such asCriminal Minds: Suspect BehaviorandBones.
You can catch him in the upcoming horror movieNatty Knockswhich comes out on July 21 and costars Robert Englund.
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Michael Bacall: Perry
Michael Becall.Getty, Warner Bros
Getty, Warner Bros
Not only did he have small roles in Quentin Tarantino’sDjango UnchainedandInglourious Basterds, but he was also a screenwriter onScott Pilgrim vs. The World,21 Jump Streetand its sequel,22 Jump Streetas well asProject X.
03of 07Mykelti Williamson: Dwight MercerMykelti Williamson.Michael Tullberg/Getty, Warner BrosMykelti Williamson was one of the most unmissable actors of the early ’90s.He came back forFree Willy 2, before starring in another megahit:Waiting to Exhale,in 1995.And of course, 1994, Williamson gained legions of fans for his role as the sweet, doomed Bubba inForrest Gump.“I fell right in place withForrest Gumpbecause I knew [it] from my spirit,” he told Bevy Smith on her podcast,Bevelations. “I had this interpretation for this character and stuffed my lip for the audition and ended up getting the job.”
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Mykelti Williamson: Dwight Mercer
Mykelti Williamson.Michael Tullberg/Getty, Warner Bros
Michael Tullberg/Getty, Warner Bros
Mykelti Williamson was one of the most unmissable actors of the early ’90s.
He came back forFree Willy 2, before starring in another megahit:Waiting to Exhale,in 1995.
And of course, 1994, Williamson gained legions of fans for his role as the sweet, doomed Bubba inForrest Gump.
“I fell right in place withForrest Gumpbecause I knew [it] from my spirit,” he told Bevy Smith on her podcast,Bevelations. “I had this interpretation for this character and stuffed my lip for the audition and ended up getting the job.”
04of 07Michael Madsen: Glenn GreenwoodMichael Madsen.Daniele Venturelli/Getty, Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockMichael Madsen may be known to many as a quintessential tough guy, but for a subset of Millennials, he’ll always be in dad mode as Glenn Greenwood, the protagonist’s adoptive father in theFree Willyfranchise.To date, Madsen has a career that spans four decades. Most will recognize him from classic Tarantino films such asReservoir Dogsand both volumes ofKill Bill, but he also appeared inThelma & Louise,Donnie BrascoandDie Another Day, among many others.
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Michael Madsen: Glenn Greenwood
Michael Madsen.Daniele Venturelli/Getty, Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Daniele Venturelli/Getty, Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Michael Madsen may be known to many as a quintessential tough guy, but for a subset of Millennials, he’ll always be in dad mode as Glenn Greenwood, the protagonist’s adoptive father in theFree Willyfranchise.
To date, Madsen has a career that spans four decades. Most will recognize him from classic Tarantino films such asReservoir Dogsand both volumes ofKill Bill, but he also appeared inThelma & Louise,Donnie BrascoandDie Another Day, among many others.
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Jayne Atkinson: Annie Greenwood
Jayne Atkinson.Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty, Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty, Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Playing Jesse’s adoptive mother was English actress Jayne Atkinson.
Since then, the 64-year-old actress has made a career out of playing stern characters in procedural dramas. She portrayed the notorious Erin Strauss onCriminal Mindsfrom 2007 to 2020, starred inHouse of Cardsas secretary of state Catherine Durant from 2013 to 2018 and as head of Homeland Security in24from 20006 to 2007.
06of 07Lori Petty: RaeLori Petty.Getty, Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockShe’s now recognizable as the quirky Lolly Whitehill fromOrange is the New Black, but Lori Petty had quite an established career prior to being on the Netflix original.Aside from being inFree Willyin 1993, Petty also appeared inPoint Break, Poetic JusticeandA League of Their Own.Most recently, the 59-year-old actress starred in Max’s post-apocalyptic mini-series,Station Eleven.
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Lori Petty: Rae
Lori Petty.Getty, Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Getty, Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
She’s now recognizable as the quirky Lolly Whitehill fromOrange is the New Black, but Lori Petty had quite an established career prior to being on the Netflix original.
Aside from being inFree Willyin 1993, Petty also appeared inPoint Break, Poetic JusticeandA League of Their Own.Most recently, the 59-year-old actress starred in Max’s post-apocalyptic mini-series,Station Eleven.
07of 07August Schellenberg: Randolph JohnsonAugust Schellenberg.E. Charbonneau/WireImage, Warner BrosSchellenberg starred as whale trainer Randolph Johnson in all three movies about the captive whale.Schellenberg continued to act in subsequent years; in 2007, he garnered an Emmy nomination for his role as Sitting Bull in HBO’sBury My Heart at Wounded Knee.He died of lung cancer on Aug. 15, 2013. He was 77.
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August Schellenberg: Randolph Johnson
August Schellenberg.E. Charbonneau/WireImage, Warner Bros
E. Charbonneau/WireImage, Warner Bros
Schellenberg starred as whale trainer Randolph Johnson in all three movies about the captive whale.
Schellenberg continued to act in subsequent years; in 2007, he garnered an Emmy nomination for his role as Sitting Bull in HBO’sBury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
He died of lung cancer on Aug. 15, 2013. He was 77.
source: people.com
