Profile Text
Richter in 2019, photo by kathclick /Bigstock.com
Place of Birth: Medford, Oregon, U.S.
Date of Birth: January 29, 1980
Ethnicity: German, Scottish, English
Jason James Richter is an American actor and musician. He starred as Jesse Greenwood in the films Free Willy , Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home , and Free Willy 3: The Rescue . His roles also include the films Cops & Robbersons , The NeverEnding Story III: Return to Fantasia , Laserhawk , Tekken (2009), Last Rampage , The Brawler , The Little Things , and Last Call (2021); and the music video for “Childhood.” He was the bassist for band Fermata.
His father George was in the U.S. Navy, and Jason lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, and then San Diego, California. His mother, Sandy Little, is an author. His step-father is director Dwight H. Little, who directed Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home , among others.
Jason’s paternal grandfather was Emil Ralph Richter (the son of Emil Fredrick Richter and Mary Cossette Ryburn). Jason’s grandfather Emil was born in Missouri. Jason’s great-grandfather Emil was born in Missouri, to German parents, Edward Heinrich Richter and Maria Christina Schaaf. Jason’s great-grandmother Mary was the daughter of Frank D. Ryburn and Fannie I. McKnight.
Jason’s paternal grandmother was Josephine Sue Stone (the daughter of Francis/Frank Lee Stone and Minnie Georgia Elliott). Josephine was born in Missouri. Francis was born in Kansas, the son of Solomon Wesley Stone and Leanna Elizabeth Crenshaw. Minnie was born in North Carolina, the daughter of John Abraham Elliott and Susan Mary Burton.
Jason’s maternal grandfather was David Sheridan Montgomery (the son of Sheridan Montgomery and Ruby Ellen Gault). David was born in California, to a father from Ohio and a mother from Nebraska. Jason’s great-grandfather Sheridan was the son of Henry Dove Montgomery and Sarah Malissa Morey. Ruby was the daughter of John Sherman Gault and Cora Ellen Stern.
Jason’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth/Betty Deyonne Setzer (the daughter of Orville/Arville Wesley Setzer and Era Kate Jones). Elizabeth was born in Oklahoma. Orville was the son of Wesley Eugene Setzer and Rose Ann “Rhoda” Rink. Era was the daughter of William Edward Jones and Susan K. Sloan.
Sources: Jason’s paternal grandfather, Emil Ralph Richter, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jason’s paternal grandmother, Josephine Sue Stone, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jason’s maternal grandfather, David Sheridan Montgomery, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jason’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth/Betty Deyonne Setzer, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org