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​Turns Out Jesse From 'Free Willy' Is Still Acting – And He's Apparently Worth Loads

​Turns Out Jesse From 'Free Willy' Is Still Acting – And He's Apparently Worth Loads

The kid who played Jesse in 1993 family flick Free Willy is now 38 and is reportedly still raking it in.

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Many child stars fade into obscurity, having peaked early in life only to find there's not much left for them on the other side of puberty. But apparently that's not so for Jason James Richter - the kid who played Jesse in 1993 family flick Free Willy, who's now 38 and is reportedly still raking it in.

Richter's Instagram profile credits him as both an actor and producer, and he regularly posts snaps from the set of his work - as well as, you know, just taking a casual stroll:

Jason James Richter/Instagram

A couple of years ago he told OK! magazine: "I'm still acting. I just finished a film called High and Outside.

"I got to play a crazy biker in the film which was pretty different. Before that, I played a doctor in a film called Inhumane and I'm slated to do a Western."

And he's not doing badly with the acting, it seems, as according to the Metro, Richter now has an estimated net worth of $500,000 (£355,000).

Richter apparently gave up acting briefly in 1998 - when he was 18 - so that he could dabble in music for a bit. However, it wasn't long before he returned to his original trade, and starred in TV shows like Criminal Minds: Suspect Behaviour, Bones, Rugrats and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Other films he's starred in during his time include Cops & Robbersons, The NeverEnding Story III, The Setting Son, Laserhawk and Last Rampage: The Escape of Gary Tison.

Jason James Richter/Instagram

But, of course, the role he's most famous for is that of Jesse in the Free Willy franchise - which, along with the original filmincludes Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home and Free Willy 3: The Rescue.

Richter reportedly beat off 4,000 auditionees to play the role of Jesse, meaning at the age of 13 he was thrust into the limelight as the star of one of the greatest kids' films ever.

Just think back to that ending, when Willy jumps over a sobbing Jesse and into the sea, thus becoming FREE. He swims off into the sunset to return to his family.

Man, that was some seriously powerful stuff.

The third sequel, Free Willy: Escape From Pirate's Cove, was the only one not to star Richter, and the lead role was instead played by Bindi Irwin - the daughter of the late Steve Irwin.

Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros

Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity