The jump scene in "Free Willy" was accomplished by strapping an animatronic whale to a rocket launcher. Director Simon Wincer recalled the process in a new interview with The Guardian. Lori Petty, who ...

OSLO, Norway -- For kids, Keiko the killer whale was the charming hero of "Free Willy." For biologists, he was the focus of fierce debate on whether captive animals could be returned to the wild.

The story of Keiko is a fascinating and tragic one. The male orca was born in the waters off Iceland in 1977 and was nearly two years old when he was captured by fishermen. He was taken in the ...

"The Good Whale" from "The New York Times" and Serial Productions follows Keiko the orca's journey from animal actor to free whale Serial Productions is ready to share a whale of a tale. The New York ...

SEATTLE (AP) — An ambitious plan announced last week to return Lolita, a killer whale held captive for more than a half-century, to her home waters in Washington’s Puget Sound thrilled those who have ...

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Keiko, who gained fame starring in the Free Willy movies, has died in a Norwegian bay that he made his home after a 10-year campaign failed to coax him back to the open seas. The ...