Summary SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT In 1993, an orca named Keiko became a worldwide star after appearing in the movie Free Willy, but what happened to the whale after the film is a tale of tragedy. With a name meaning "lucky one," Keiko was captured in 1979 at the age of two. During his younger years, Keiko lived at an aquarium in Iceland, a zoo in Canada, and an amusement park in Mexico, before living up to his name and being selected for Free Willy.
As the titular Willy, Keiko is the undeniable star of Free Willy, the story of a young boy who bonds with the orca. The film's worldwide success and Keiko's status as one of the best movie whales spurred a letter-writing campaign to free Keiko and the establishment of the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation. With so much momentum behind it, Warner Bros. couldn't ignore the campaign.
As reported by BBC News, Keiko died in the fjords of Norway in December 2003. His cause of death was believed to be pneumonia, with a rapid decline that meant there was nothing caretakers could do to save him. Keiko was believed to be 27 years old at the time of his death, a few years younger than the typical 35-year lifespan for an orca. Keiko was buried in Norway and given a secret ceremony , but a grave cairn was built where visitors could pay their respects to the Free Willy star.
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