Born on December 19, 1980 in Los Angeles, California, Jacob Benjamin “Jake” Gyllenhaal is an Academy Award-nominated actor. He began acting when he was ten years old, and was exposed early to the filmmaking industry due to his father being a director and his mother a screenwriter.
Jake Gyllenhaal made his acting debut in a movie with Billy Crystal. He was 11 when he appeared in the 1991comedy City Slickers. He has appeared several times in his father’s movies, such as in the 1993 film A Dangerous Woman, with his sister, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. He also had a minor role in an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street, as well as in another comedy, 1992’s Homegrown. He was also in an Italian cooking show, Molto Mario, with his mother and sister. In 1993, he starred in Josh and S.A.M., a film that his father didn’t direct.
In 1999, Gyllenhaal received his first lead role in October Sky, playing Homer Hickam in the drama. This was described as his breakthrough film, and was followed by the title role in Donnie Darko in 2001. Despite its initial failure in the box office, the film became a cult favorite. He also appeared in the romantic comedy Bubble Boy and Lovely & Amazing that same year, before landing the part of Pilot Kelson in 2002’s Highway. He wasn’t applauded for his performance, but he gained more success starring opposite Jennifer Aniston in The Good Girl. This was followed by Moonlight Mile, where he was cast along with Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon. Jake Gyllenhaal was then given the role of Sam Hall in 2004’s The Day After Tomorrow, a blockbuster hit. His next success came with the character of Jack Twist in 2005’s Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee’s dramatic adaptation also starring Heath Ledger. That year, he also starred in Proof with Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins, and in Jarhead. Gyllenhaal also narrated the short film The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, and also starred in David Fincher’s Zodiac and in Rendition in 2007.
Los Angeles, California, USA
Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal
Jake was first inspired to become an actor by watching Ed Wood, Tim Burton's 1994 biopic starring Johnny Depp.
Jake drove his Jarhead co-star, Peter Sarsgaard crazy because he kept playing the same U2 and 50 Cent song (Candy Shop) over and over again.
Jake loves to watch Food Network shows like, Molto Mario and Iron Chef.
Jake had his Bar Mitzvah party at a homeless shelter, something his parents encouraged to help him recognize how privileged his own childhood had been.
Jake's favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. He named his dogs after the characters Atticus and Boo.
Jake had to gain five pounds of muscles for his role in Jarhead. He eventually had to lose it for his role in Zodiac.
Jake is a practicing Buddhist.
Young Hollywood Awards
2002 Breakthrough Performance - Male
Chlotrudis Awards
2003 Best Actor, Donnie Darko
National Board of Review
2005 Best Supporting Actor, Bokeback Mountain
MTV Movie Awards
2006 Best Performance, Brokeback Mountain
2006 Best Kiss, Brokeback Mountain
BAFTA Awards
2006 Best Supporting Actor, Brokeback Mountain
Palm Springs International Film Festival
2006 Achievement-Actor Award, Brokeback Mountain
National Arts Awards
2006 Young Artist Award for Artistic Excellence
2010: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - Prince Dastan
2009: Nailed - Howard Birdwell
2009: Brothers - Tommy Cahill
2007: Rendition - Douglas Freeman
2007: Zodiac - Robert Graysmith
2005: Jarhead - Anthony Swofford
2005: Proof - Hal
2005: Brokeback Mountain - Jack Twist
2005: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers - Narrator
2004: The Day After Tomorrow - Sam Hall
2002: Moonlight Mile - Joe Nast
2002: Highway - Pilot Kelson
2002: The Good Girl - Holden Worther
2001: Lovely & Amazing - Jordan
2001: Bubble Boy - Jimmy Livingston
2001: Donnie Darko - Donnie Darko
1999: October Sky - Homer Hickam
1998: Homegrown - Jake/Blue Kahan
1994: "Homicide: Life on the Street" - Matt Ellison (1 episode)
1993: Josh and S.A.M. - Leon
1993: A Dangerous Woman - Edward
1991: City Slickers - Danny Robbins
"You know it's flattering when there's a rumor that says I'm bisexual. It means I can play more kinds of roles. I'm open to whatever people want to call me. I've never really been attracted to men sexually, but I don't think I would be afraid of it if it happened."
“It's funny to me that people find other people getting coffee really interesting, or walking their dog in the dog park.”
"Don't listen to what anybody says except the people who encourage you. If it's what you want to do and it's within yourself, then keep going and try to do it for the rest of your life."
(on filming a gay love scene with Heath Ledger)
"Heath almost broke my nose in [a kissing] scene. He grabs me and he slams me up against the wall and kisses me. And then I grab him and I slam him up against the wall and I kiss him. And we were doing take after take after take. I got the s--- beat out of me."