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, …

Oct 6, 2021 · The killer whale who starred in the 1993 classic, named Keiko, died an agonising death in 2003 after tragically failing to adapt to a new life in the wild off the coast of Iceland.

Keiko lived five years in his native waters as opposed to staying in a tiny tank in Mexico, where he was visibly dying. Although he didn’t reintegrate with other orcas, he had freedom and had his basic …

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 …

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 …

Keiko. Actor: Free Willy. Keiko, a Genus Orca whale, was born in 1976 and captured off the coast of Iceland in 1979. He was sold to the marine park industry, and in 1985 he arrived to Reino Aventura …

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

Keiko was the first captive orca whale ever returned to his home waters, a historic first. He lived out his life free of the stresses and dangers of life in a concrete tank.