Screen juvenile who got started when a Japanese producer used his "all-American boy" qualities in three TV advertisements aimed at the Japanese market. Work in US commercials followed, and Richter enjoyed a breakthrough into feature films when he was chosen to play a whale's best friend in "Free Willy" (1993). He went on to reprise that role in the two sequels.
Milestones
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1983 Moved at age three to Honolulu HI
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1989 Moved with his family back to the continental U.S.
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1993 Feature film debut, "Free Willy"
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1994 Acted in "The Neverending Story III"
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1995 Reprised signature role in "Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home"
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1998 Did third turn as Jesse in "Free Willy 3: The Rescue"
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Began acting career when a Japanese TV commercial producer used him in three commercials aimed at the Japanese market (date approximate)