Keiko (c. 1976 – 12 December 2003) was a male orca captured in the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland in 1979, and widely known for his portrayal of Willy in the 1993 film Free Willy.

Keiko's caretakers will live nearby in a house fixed up for them by a local farmer. Plans are to lead Keiko out for walks to build up his stamina, and to feed him when he wants to be fed. Otherwise, he is free …

Keiko (pronounced KAY-ko) was an approximately 26-year-old male Icelandic killer whale who was captured near Ingólfshöfði (EENG-ohls-hovu-thi), south-east Iceland, on November 5th, 1979, …

Jul 19, 2023 · On December 12, 2003, the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation and the Humane Society of the United States reported that Keiko, the orca whale, died in the Taknes Fjord, Norway, in the company …

Watch how Keiko, the orca star of the hit film Free Willy, became the first captive orca to be successfully returned to his ocean.

Nov 19, 2025 · Behind the cinematic tale of a boy helping a captive killer whale return to the wild was Keiko, an actual orca living in captivity whose life would eventually mirror the movie’s plot in an …

Mar 29, 2024 · Keiko was a male orca captured in the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland in 1979 as a 2-year-old. He was sold to the Icelandic Aquarium in Hafnarfjörður soon after.

Sep 29, 2025 · Keiko, the orca star of Free Willy, died prematurely in 2003 after struggling to adapt to a life outside of captivity. His story highlights the complex challenges and ethical considerations …

Nov 12, 2024 · Let's start from the beginning: In 1979, Keiko was taken from his pod as a 2-year-old orca. Though he eventually returned to Iceland in 1998 for a years-long effort to break bonds with …

Keiko, a male orca (orcinus orca) originally captured in 1979 from a pod in Iceland, lived in Oregon for less than three years. During that time he became one of Oregon’s best-known celebrities and a …