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Actress: I'd Never Work With Captive Whales
18 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Stunt double trained seven weeks with Keiko for Free Willy.
- She regrets her role due to believing whales should be free.
- Keiko was released into the wild but later died in 2003.
Debi Derryberry, who served as the stunt double for the 12-year-old boy in the 1993 film Free Willy, has revealed her perspective on working with the orca Keiko. She recounted spending seven weeks training with the whale, noting Keiko appeared tired during filming. Derryberry expressed regret for taking the role, stating her current opposition to keeping whales in captivity.
The film Free Willy was a major hit upon its release in July 1993, gaining significant attention. Following its success, fans learned of Keiko's conditions in captivity, prompting efforts to return the whale to his native waters. These efforts ultimately led to Keiko's release in Iceland in 2001.
Keiko lived in the wild for two years before his death in 2003. He succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 27. The story of Keiko's life and rescue has been further explored in various media, including the 2024 podcast "The Good Whale."
