Jake Gyllenhaal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jake Gyllenhaal
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Gyllenhaal in 2019
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Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal
December 19, 1980 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Columbia University |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
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Full list |
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| Family | Gyllenhaal |
| Awards | Full list |
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Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal (/ˈdʒɪlənh[unsupported input]/ jil-ƏN-hawl; born December 19, 1980) is an American actor. He has worked in movies and on stage for over thirty years.
Jake comes from the Gyllenhaal family, which has many people in the film industry. His dad, Stephen Gyllenhaal, is a film director. His mom, Naomi Foner, is a screenwriter. His older sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, is also an actress.
Jake started acting when he was a child. His first movie was City Slickers (1991). He also appeared in his father's films like A Dangerous Woman (1993). He became well-known for his roles as Homer Hickam in October Sky (1999). He also played a troubled teenager in the thriller Donnie Darko (2001).
Jake Gyllenhaal later starred in big movies. These include the disaster film The Day After Tomorrow (2004). He played Jack Twist in the drama Brokeback Mountain (2005). For this role, he won a BAFTA Award. He was also nominated for an Academy Award.
His career continued with roles in the thriller Zodiac (2007). He also starred in the romantic comedy Love & Other Drugs (2010). Another notable film was the science fiction movie Source Code (2011). He received more praise for his roles in thrillers directed by Denis Villeneuve. These were Prisoners (2013) and Enemy (2013).
He earned nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. This was for his performances in Nightcrawler (2014) and Nocturnal Animals (2016). His movie Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) made the most money. In this film, he played the superhero villain Mysterio.
Recently, Jake Gyllenhaal has starred in action and thriller movies. These include The Guilty (2021) and Ambulance (2022). He also appeared in Road House (2024). He has also been in the TV series Presumed Innocent (2024).
Jake has also performed on stage. He was in the play This Is Our Youth (2002) in London. He also appeared in Broadway shows like Sunday in the Park with George (2017). His role in Sea Wall/A Life (2019) earned him a Tony Award nomination.
Life and Career Journey
Early Life and First Roles (1980–2000)
Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal was born on December 19, 1980. His birthplace was Los Angeles, California, in the United States. His mother, Naomi Foner, is a screenwriter. His father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, is a film director. His older sister, Maggie, also became an actress. They even appeared together in the movie Donnie Darko (2001).
Jake's family has a long history. His father's family is from Sweden and England. His mother's family is Jewish, from Russia and Poland. Jake considers himself Jewish. He has worn glasses since he was six years old. When he turned 13, he volunteered at a homeless shelter. His parents wanted him to appreciate what he had.
Growing up, Jake was often around filmmaking. He made his acting debut in the 1991 comedy City Slickers. He played the son of Billy Crystal's character. His parents did not let him take every role. For example, they said no to The Mighty Ducks (1992). This was because it would have meant leaving home for two months.
He was allowed to act in his father's films several times. He appeared in A Dangerous Woman (1993) with his sister Maggie. He was also in an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street (1994). Another film was the comedy Homegrown (1998).
His parents wanted him to have summer jobs. So, he worked as a lifeguard and a busboy. Jake said his parents always supported his artistic side. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in 1998. Then, he went to Columbia University. He studied Eastern religions and philosophy there. He left college after two years to focus on acting. However, he hopes to finish his degree someday.
Jake's first main role was in October Sky (1999). This movie was based on the true story of Homer Hickam. Jake played a young man who wanted to win a science scholarship. He wanted to avoid working in a coal mine. The film was well-liked by critics. It was called his "breakout performance."
From Donnie Darko to London Stage (2001–2004)
Donnie Darko (2001) was Jake's second main film role. It did not do well at first. But it later became a cult favorite. The movie is set in 1988. Jake plays a troubled teenager. He sees visions of a tall rabbit named Frank. Frank tells him the world is ending. Critics praised Jake's acting in this film.
After Donnie Darko, Jake appeared in Highway (2002). He also starred with Jennifer Aniston in The Good Girl (2002). This movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He also appeared in Lovely and Amazing (2002). In these films, he played characters who were going through changes.
Jake then starred in the comedy Bubble Boy. This movie was based on the story of David Vetter. Jake's character chases the person he loves. The film was not well-received by critics.
Next, Jake starred in Moonlight Mile (2002). He played a young man dealing with the death of his fiancée. The story was inspired by the director's own life. Jake made his stage debut in London in 2002. He starred in This Is Our Youth at the Garrick Theatre. He received good reviews for his performance. He also won an award for Outstanding Newcomer.
Jake was almost cast as Spider-Man for Spider-Man 2 (2004). This was because Tobey Maguire, the original star, had health concerns. But Maguire recovered and played the role. Jake later starred with Maguire in Brothers (2009). They look alike, and Jake has joked about being called "Spider-Man" by cab drivers. In 2003, he also tried out for the role of Batman. This role went to Christian Bale. Jake then appeared in the big science fiction movie The Day After Tomorrow (2004). He played the son of Dennis Quaid's character.
Major Roles and Awards (2005–2011)
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In 2005, Jake Gyllenhaal was in the drama Proof. He starred with Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. He played a math student trying to help Paltrow's character. The film was generally well-received. He also starred in Jarhead. In this movie, Jake played a U.S. Marine during the first Gulf War. Critics praised his performance.
Jake starred in Brokeback Mountain (2005) with Heath Ledger. The film won many awards. These included the Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival. It also won three Academy Awards. Jake was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. He also won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. He and Heath Ledger won an MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss in 2006. After the 2006 Academy Awards, Jake was invited to join the Academy. This was to recognize his acting career.
Jake hosted Saturday Night Live in January 2007. He sang a song from the musical Dreamgirls. He then starred in David Fincher's thriller Zodiac (2007). This movie was about the Zodiac Killer. Jake played Robert Graysmith, a cartoonist. He met Graysmith to prepare for the role. The film received positive reviews.
He next starred in Rendition (2007). This was a political thriller about U.S. policy. He co-starred with Meryl Streep and Reese Witherspoon. Two years later, he was in Brothers. He starred with Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman. This film was a remake of a Danish movie.
In 2010, Jake played the main role in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. This movie was based on a video game. He also starred with Anne Hathaway in the romantic comedy Love & Other Drugs. This role earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination. In 2011, he played Colter Stevens in the time-travel thriller Source Code. Critics praised the cast's performances.
Acclaim and Broadway Debut (2012–2018)
Jake Gyllenhaal starred with Michael Peña in End of Watch (2012). This was an action thriller about two Los Angeles police officers. Jake was also an executive producer for the film. It received positive reviews. To prepare, Jake trained and went on police ride-alongs.
He was a jury member for the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2012. Also in 2012, Jake made his Off-Broadway debut. He was in the play If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet. In 2013, Jake appeared in two films by director Denis Villeneuve. The first was the thriller Prisoners. Jake played a detective searching for abducted girls. Critics praised his "exceptional" performance. In their second film, Enemy, Jake played two roles. He was a history teacher and his look-alike.
The next year, he produced and starred in Nightcrawler. This crime thriller earned him Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations. Critics called his performance "attention-grabbing."
Jake debuted on Broadway in the play Constellations in 2015. He starred opposite Ruth Wilson. That same year, he was in the comedy Accidental Love. He also starred in the sports drama Southpaw. He played a boxer in this film. Critics found his portrayal "plausible" and "emotionally vulnerable."
He then played Scott Fischer in Everest. This film was based on the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. It was a big success, earning over $200 million. Finally, he appeared in the comedy-drama Demolition. He played an investment banker rebuilding his life. Critics praised his performance. He also served as a jury member for the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2016, he starred in the thriller Nocturnal Animals. The film received positive reviews. Critics praised Jake's brilliant portrayal of his two roles. In October 2016, he performed in the musical Sunday in the Park with George. He played the main character. Critics praised his superb singing. He reprised this role on Broadway in 2017.
In 2017, Jake starred in the science fiction horror film Life. He also had a role in Okja. He starred in the drama Stronger. This film was based on Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman. Critics complimented Jake's versatility and "outstanding" portrayal. The next year, he co-starred in the drama Wildlife. He played a father who temporarily leaves his family for a dangerous job. He also had a role in the Western drama The Sisters Brothers (2018).
Action and Thriller Films (2019–Present)
Jake Gyllenhaal worked again with Nightcrawler director Dan Gilroy. This was for the thriller film Velvet Buzzsaw (2019). He played an art critic. The film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. That same year, Jake played the villain Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home. This superhero film is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was one of the highest-grossing films of 2019.
He also appeared in Sea Wall/A Life on Broadway in 2019. This earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play. Jake also lent his voice to the animated film Spirit Untamed (2021). That same year, he played detective Joe Baylor in the crime thriller The Guilty. This was a remake of a Danish film.
In 2022, he starred as a criminal in Michael Bay's action thriller Ambulance. The film received mixed reviews. Jake also voiced a farmer in the Disney animation Strange World. He appeared in Guy Ritchie's The Covenant (2023). He also starred in Doug Liman's action film Road House (2024). His production company, Nine Stories, signed a deal with Amazon MGM Studios.
It was announced in 2024 that Jake Gyllenhaal will return to Broadway. He will play Iago in a 2025 revival of William Shakespeare's play Othello. He will star opposite Denzel Washington. In June 2024, he joined the cast of the upcoming science fiction monster film The Bride!.
Personal Life
Family and Connections
Jake Gyllenhaal's sister Maggie is married to actor Peter Sarsgaard. Peter was Jake's co-star in Jarhead and Rendition. In December 2006, Jake and Maggie escaped a fire. It destroyed a lodge where they were staying in California. They helped other guests get to safety.
Jake has famous godparents. Actor and director Paul Newman was his godfather. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis is his godmother. Jake is also the godfather of Matilda Rose Ledger. She is the daughter of his Brokeback Mountain co-stars Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams.
Jake has been in relationships with actresses and models. He dated actress Kirsten Dunst from 2002 to 2004. He dated his Rendition co-star Reese Witherspoon from 2007 to 2009. He was also in a relationship with singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from 2010 to 2011. He dated model Alyssa Miller from 2013. Since late 2018, Jake has been in a relationship with French model Jeanne Cadieu.
Interests and Causes
Jake Gyllenhaal has shown interest in political and social issues. He filmed a commercial for Rock the Vote. He also visited the University of Southern California to encourage students to vote. He campaigned for Democratic Party presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004. He believes actors can express their views through their work.
Jake is also passionate about the environment. He recycles regularly. He also pays to have trees planted in a forest in Mozambique. This helps promote the Future Forests program. After filming The Day After Tomorrow, he flew to the Arctic. This was to raise awareness about climate change. He has called climate activist Greta Thunberg an inspiring person.
In 2003, Jake participated in an advertising campaign for the American Civil Liberties Union. He is the Honorary Chair of the New Eyes for the Needy Advisory Board. He has also supported the TV fundraiser Stand Up to Cancer. Jake is on the board of directors for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. He has volunteered in juvenile detention centers in California.
In 2014, Jake attended an event for the Headstrong Project. This group helps military veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. He read a poem by a veteran at the event. In 2017, he helped raise money for survivors of the September 11 attacks. Jake has studied Buddhism. He tries to practice mindfulness every day.
Acting Credits and Awards
Jake Gyllenhaal has starred in many highly praised films. These include October Sky (1999), Donnie Darko (2001), Brokeback Mountain (2005), Zodiac (2007), Source Code (2011), End of Watch (2012), Nightcrawler (2014), and Stronger (2017).
He has received many awards and nominations. He won a BAFTA Film Award and an Independent Spirit Award. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award. Other nominations include three Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Tony Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Jake Gyllenhaal para niños
