Jake Gyllenhaal

Birthday: 19 December 1980, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name: Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal

Height: 180 cm

Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal was born in Los Angeles, to producer/screenwriter Naomi Foner (née Achs) and director Stephen Gyllenhaal. He is the brother of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, who played his sister in Donnie Darko (2001). His godmother is actress Jamie Lee Curtis. His mother is from a Jewish family, and his father's ancestry includes Swedish, English, and Swiss-German.Gyllenhaal made his movie debut, at the age of eleven, in the film City Slickers (1991), playing Billy Crystal's character's son. He made an impact in various films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, in films such as October Sky (1999), his breakthrough performance, and as the title role in the cult phenomenon psychological thriller, Donnie Darko (2001), for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actor, playing a psychologically troubled teenager. He followed this with roles encompassing many different genres, including the comedy film, Walt Disney romantic comedy, Bubble Boy (2001); opposite Jennifer Aniston in another Sundance favorite, The Good Girl (2002), as a young man grieving the death of his fiancée in Moonlight Mile (2002), and in the science fiction blockbuster, The Day After Tomorrow (2004), portraying a student caught in a cataclysmic climate event, opposite Dennis Quaid. Making his theater debut, Gyllenhaal appeared on the London stage with a starring role in Kenneth Lonergan's revival of "This Is Our Youth". The play was widely-received and played for eight weeks in London's West End. Gyllenhaal followed his successful theater en devour with a role in Jarhead (2005), playing Anthony "Swoff" Swofford, an aggressive and masculine but equally vulnerable and sensitive Marine during the Gulf War, and Proof (2005), as Gwyneth Paltrow's character's love interest. However, it was his follow-up performance that won critical acclaim in Brokeback Mountain (2005), in which he co-starred with Australian actor Heath Ledger, as sheep herders who fall in love in the 1960s and depicts their relationship over the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. For his role as Jack Twist, Gyllenhaal received critical acclaim and won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture, and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.Since then, he has acted in a wide range of movies, ranging from the critically-acclaimed thriller, Zodiac (2007), the drama Brothers (2009), playing opposite Tobey Maguire as the title siblings, in the action adventure film, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), sporting a bulked-up physique, and the box office hit, Love & Other Drugs (2010), in which he teamed up with Anne Hathaway, once again, and for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.In the 2010s, Gyllenhaal starred in several major films for which he received significant critical acclaim: science fiction thriller Source Code (2011), police drama End of Watch (2012), mystery Prisoners (2013), dark media satire Nightcrawler (2014), the boxing drama Southpaw (2015), and the dramedy Demolition (2015). For Nightcrawler, he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.Gyllenhaal is the godfather of Matilda Ledger (aka Matilda Rose Ledger), daughter of the late actor Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams. Gyllenhaal's most significant personal relationships have been with actresses Kirsten Dunst and Reese Witherspoon. He is friends with Maroon 5 front-man Adam Levine, having known him since kindergarten. He is a good friend of his sister's husband and Jarhead (2005) co-star, actor Peter Sarsgaard. Hide

[Working with sister on Donnie Darko (2001)] It was really hard for me and my sister, I was nineteen Show more [Working with sister on Donnie Darko (2001)] It was really hard for me and my sister, I was nineteen years old and she was twenty three I would always say "what are you doing? That's acting to you?" and she would say "oh you suck" so then I would say you're such a faker" it was very "sibling-esque" but my sister is probably the reason why I do this, she's somebody I admire more than anybody in the world and drives me fucking nuts sometimes Hide

I think my strength is to do a take all the way through. I am definitely not someone who can do a sp Show more I think my strength is to do a take all the way through. I am definitely not someone who can do a sprint. Maybe I am not that smart, but it takes me a while to find the moment, and I like to be pushed toward it. Hide

First, it's "Who is Jake Gyllenhaal?," then it's "Get me Jake Gyllenhaal," then "Get me someone who Show more First, it's "Who is Jake Gyllenhaal?," then it's "Get me Jake Gyllenhaal," then "Get me someone who looks like Jake Gyllenhaal," and then "Who is Jake Gyllenhaal?"...Right now, I'm between "Who is Jake Gyllenhaal? and "Get me Jake Gyllenhaal."" [Gyllenhaal on the stages of fame in Hollywood] Hide

I admire actors and artists who devote just as much time to their life as they do to their work. I admire actors and artists who devote just as much time to their life as they do to their work.

In a perfect world, I would love to do one play for every three movies. In a perfect world, I would love to do one play for every three movies.

[on training for the police movie, End of Watch (2012)] We were all Tased. The whole cast. We decide Show more [on training for the police movie, End of Watch (2012)] We were all Tased. The whole cast. We decided that we thought it would be a sort of semi-bonding experience. When we had a choice between between pepper spray and being Tased, we were told by the professionals that Tasing was probably the preference because pepper spray lasts for a long time after. And a Tase is done in moments. Se we decided to go for quick and painful. Hide

[on his failed audition for the role of Frodo Baggins] I remember auditioning for The Lord of the Ri Show more [on his failed audition for the role of Frodo Baggins] I remember auditioning for The Lord of the Rings and going in and not being told that I needed a British accent. I really do remember Peter Jackson saying to me, "You know that you have to do this in a British accent?" We heard back it was literally one of the worst auditions. Hide

One of the greatest performances I've ever seen is Max Pomeranc as the young boy in Searching for Bo Show more One of the greatest performances I've ever seen is Max Pomeranc as the young boy in Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993). Something about watching a child and his ability to be honest, and his desperation for honesty, even in the midst of all the adults surrounding them, which is essentially what that movie is about, and the performance itself is so present and exists on its own even today. Hide

[Advice for acting students] The way you behave with everybody is more important than the work you d Show more [Advice for acting students] The way you behave with everybody is more important than the work you do. Generosity, kindness, and patience will get you so far: that's the biggest lesson I've learned. Hide

My dad descends from the Swedish Gyllenhaal family, a noble lineage that my ancestor Nils Gunnarsson Show more My dad descends from the Swedish Gyllenhaal family, a noble lineage that my ancestor Nils Gunnarsson Haal established in the 17th century and which has been very influential in Sweden for a long time. My great-grandfather emigrated to the USA. But I see myself as a Jew since my mother is a Russian-Jewish New Yorker. Hide

"Being a star doesn't last. That's not what life should be about. It's a complete illusion that real Show more "Being a star doesn't last. That's not what life should be about. It's a complete illusion that really has nothing to do with you. For me, finding out about life is the most important thing." (1999, Raygun) Hide

[on what he is personally fearful of] Many things. I think we're living in a particularly scary time Show more [on what he is personally fearful of] Many things. I think we're living in a particularly scary time. But I'm Jewish so I have a tendency towards anxiety. With my work, no matter how much time and preparation I've had, I'm always scared. But I know what a privilege it is to do the job that I do. I know how amazing it is to be able to choose the work that I do. Hide

[on Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler (2014)] My grandfather (whose parents were immigrants from Russia) h Show more [on Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler (2014)] My grandfather (whose parents were immigrants from Russia) he really wanted me at one point to read this story about Billy the Kid, because Billy the Kid was an immigrant, essentially, and he was someone that came here to reinvent himself, and that America is made up, obviously, out of the idea of reinvention, and that Billy the Kid is this quintessential American character, and was an immigrant. He reinvented his identity to become the quintessential American. And I think that Lou is a product of the times; he's been created... Hide

Annie (Anne Hathaway) and I already had sex on film in Brokeback Mountain (2005), so I wasn't too ne Show more Annie (Anne Hathaway) and I already had sex on film in Brokeback Mountain (2005), so I wasn't too nervous. There's something about the way Annie and I both work which is inherently very musical. It's all about rhythm. There's a rhythm to writing, there's a rhythm to sports and there's a rhythm to sex. (On Love & Other Drugs (2010)) Hide

The truth is most of the films that make a lot of money no one remembers, and I'm not interested in Show more The truth is most of the films that make a lot of money no one remembers, and I'm not interested in making films that no one remembers. Hide

[My parents] were relatively progressive in their spiritual beliefs: my father is Christian and my m Show more [My parents] were relatively progressive in their spiritual beliefs: my father is Christian and my mother is Jewish. On my 13th birthday, they thought it was important for me to experience a rite of passage, an entrance into manhood, and the consensus was that we would do something for the good of the community, some charitable work - a barmitzvah-like act, without the typical trappings. So we went to a homeless shelter and we did some work there and then I had the party - the celebration - there. Hide

[on playing Donnie Darko] For me, personally, when approaching the role, it was sort of hard to figu Show more [on playing Donnie Darko] For me, personally, when approaching the role, it was sort of hard to figure out, because there's so many things that he gets hit with. I think that Donnie is what he comes in contact with. Hide

"I fooled around with Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams got pregnant." Interview about filming Brok Show more "I fooled around with Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams got pregnant." Interview about filming Brokeback Mountain (2005), 2006. Hide

When you grow up there is some compromising to do. But compromising creative instinct is never good. When you grow up there is some compromising to do. But compromising creative instinct is never good.

We live in a sad time where actors are politicians & politicians are actors. We live in a sad time where actors are politicians & politicians are actors.

The biggest mistake that I've made is not really admitting to myself that filmmaking is a director's Show more The biggest mistake that I've made is not really admitting to myself that filmmaking is a director's medium. We all get into situations where we're working with people, and we try to control that. But I realized once I'm gone it's going to be the director's vision from here on out. Hide

"You know, it's flattering when there's a rumor that says I'm bisexual. It means I can play more kin Show more "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." (Details, December 2005) Hide

Some movies you fall a step behind and some you stay in the same place, make the same choices. And t Show more Some movies you fall a step behind and some you stay in the same place, make the same choices. And then sometimes there are people who know more than you but show you, and that's the maximum you can hope for - doing that with someone who says, "I like you for what you are, and I want you to be in my picture." I didn't have to fake it or put on a mask - all the resources I had inside me were more than adequate. I don't want to pretend to be something ... I'm not pretending any more to fit somebody's mold. That's a long-winded statement but - why not do what you really think, even if it's a mistake? Hide

[on why he dislikes films with obvious political messages]: It's very important for me to be in movi Show more [on why he dislikes films with obvious political messages]: It's very important for me to be in movies that don't have a message. Messages tend to be a little preachy, and I don't think that's what movies are about. It's important for me to be in movies that have a human level, have a heart in them. That's the reason why I did this (Rendition (2007)) and it just so happens to be really topical. This political issue is a very important one right now which, as Americans, we need to look at. So it seems like it's (the film) is very political, it seems like there's a message in it, but ultimately there's a real story about human beings dealing with actual human things. Hide

On the one role that got away: "I'd have to say Ewan McGregor's part in Moulin Rouge! (2001). It was Show more On the one role that got away: "I'd have to say Ewan McGregor's part in Moulin Rouge! (2001). It was soooo close. I sang and everything. I went through months of auditions. It was between me, Heath Ledger and Ewan. I think it came down to age and where people were in their careers. I was the youngest and the least known. I would hope it didn't have anything to do with talent. Maybe it did". Hide

Coming from a family where my mom is a writer, I just respond to how people speak. Coming from a family where my mom is a writer, I just respond to how people speak.

It's only appropriate as an indulgent actor to think about quitting 'cause it's such an intense job. It's only appropriate as an indulgent actor to think about quitting 'cause it's such an intense job.

Jake Gyllenhaal's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (147)

Hot Ones - Season 14

Life (2017)

Sesame Street - Season 54

UFC on ESPN - Season 4

Sesame Street - Season 1

Sesame Street - Season 3

The Graham Norton Show - Season 24

Sesame Street - Season 2

Hot Ones - Season 17

Late Night with Seth Meyers - Season 8