] OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Keiko, the killer whale made famous
] by the "Free Willy" movies, has died in Norwegian coastal
] waters where he remained after millions of dollars and a
] decade of work failed to coax him back to the open sea,
] his caretakers said early Saturday.
]
] The whale, who was 27, died Friday afternoon after the
] sudden onset of pneumonia in the Taknes fjord. He was old
] for an orca in captivity, though wild orca live an
] average of 35 years.
]
] David Phillips, executive director of the San
] Francisco-based Free Willy-Keiko Foundation, said Keiko
] had been in good health but started showing signs of
] lethargy and loss of appetite on Thursday.
]
] "This is a long sad day for us," Phillips said.