Jake Gyllenhaal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jake Gyllenhaal
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Jake 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 |
Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal (born December 19, 1980) is an American actor. He has worked in movies and on stage for over 30 years. Jake comes from a family involved in filmmaking. His dad, Stephen Gyllenhaal, is a film director, and 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 in 1991. He became well-known for playing Homer Hickam in October Sky (1999) and a troubled teenager in Donnie Darko (2001). He later starred in big movies like the disaster film The Day After Tomorrow (2004).
Gyllenhaal earned an BAFTA Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 2005 drama Brokeback Mountain. He continued to star in many popular films, including Zodiac (2007), Love & Other Drugs (2010), and Source Code (2011). He also received praise for his roles in thrillers like Prisoners (2013) and Nightcrawler (2014). His highest-earning movie was the superhero film Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), where he played Mysterio. More recently, he has starred in action and thriller movies such as The Guilty (2021) and Ambulance (2022).
Besides movies, Jake Gyllenhaal has also performed on stage. He appeared in plays in London's West End and on Broadway. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the play Sea Wall/A Life (2019). Outside of acting, he often speaks out about important social issues.
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Jake Gyllenhaal's Early Life and Career
Growing Up in a Film Family
Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 19, 1980. His parents, Naomi Foner and Stephen Gyllenhaal, both worked in the film industry. His older sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, is also an actress. They even appeared together in the movie Donnie Darko.
Jake's family has Swedish and English roots. His mother is Jewish, and Jake considers himself Jewish too. For his 13th birthday, instead of a big party, his parents had him volunteer at a homeless shelter. They wanted him to understand the importance of helping others.
First Steps into Acting
Because his family was in the film business, Jake grew up around movies. He made his acting debut in the 1991 comedy City Slickers, playing the son of Billy Crystal's character. His parents were strict about his acting roles. For example, they didn't let him be in The Mighty Ducks (1992) because it would mean leaving home for two months.
However, they did let him act in some of his father's films. He appeared in A Dangerous Woman (1993) with his sister Maggie. He also had roles in a TV show called Homicide: Life on the Street (1994) and the comedy Homegrown (1998). Before his last year of high school, the only other movie he was allowed to do that wasn't directed by his dad was Josh and S.A.M. (1993), a children's adventure film.
His parents also made sure he had summer jobs. He worked as a lifeguard and a busboy. Jake said his parents always supported his creative side. After graduating from Harvard-Westlake School in 1998, he went to Columbia University. He studied Eastern religions and philosophy for two years before leaving to focus on acting. He hopes to finish his degree someday.
Breakthrough Role in October Sky
Jake's first main role was in October Sky (1999). In this movie, he played Homer Hickam, a young man from West Virginia. Homer dreams of winning a science scholarship to avoid working in a coal mine. The movie was well-liked and helped Jake become known as a talented actor.
Becoming a Movie Star
From Donnie Darko to London Stage
After October Sky, Jake starred in Donnie Darko (2001). This movie wasn't a big hit at first, but it later became a cult classic. Jake played a troubled teenager who sees visions of a giant rabbit. Critics praised his performance, saying he seemed both normal and deeply disturbed.
He then appeared in movies like Highway (2002), The Good Girl (2002) with Jennifer Aniston, and Lovely and Amazing (2002). He also starred in the comedy Bubble Boy, which was not well-received.
In 2002, Jake made his stage debut in London. He starred in the play This Is Our Youth at the Garrick Theatre. He received good reviews for his performance. Jake said he wanted to do theater because all the actors he admired had done it.
Jake was almost cast as Spider-Man in Spider-Man 2 (2004) because the original actor, Tobey Maguire, had health concerns. But Maguire recovered and returned to the role. Jake and Tobey later starred together in Brothers (2009). Jake also tried out for the role of Batman in Batman Begins but Christian Bale got the part. Instead, Jake starred in the big science fiction movie The Day After Tomorrow (2004), playing the son of Dennis Quaid's character.
Brokeback Mountain and Other Major Roles
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In 2005, Jake starred in the drama Proof with Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. He played a math student. He also appeared in Jarhead, playing a U.S. Marine during the first Gulf War. Critics liked his performance in Jarhead, noting his intelligence.
His role in Brokeback Mountain (2005) with Heath Ledger brought him a lot of attention. The movie won many awards, and Jake was nominated for an Academy Award. He won a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. He and Heath Ledger even won an MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss. After this, Jake was invited to join the Academy, which is a big honor in the film world.
Jake also narrated a short animated film called The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (2005). He then starred in David Fincher's thriller Zodiac (2007), playing a cartoonist. He also appeared in Rendition (2007), a political thriller. In 2009, he co-starred with Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman in Brothers.
In 2010, Jake played the main role in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, a movie based on a video game. He also starred with Anne Hathaway in the romantic comedy Love & Other Drugs, which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination. In 2011, he starred in the science fiction thriller Source Code, playing a U.S. Army captain who travels through time.
Acclaimed Performances and Broadway Debut
Jake Gyllenhaal starred with Michael Peña in the action thriller End of Watch (2012). They played two police officers in Los Angeles. Jake also helped produce this film. To prepare, he trained with police and went on ride-alongs. The movie received very positive reviews.
In 2012, Jake was a jury member at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival. He also made his Off-Broadway debut in the play If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet. In 2013, he worked with director Denis Villeneuve on two thrillers: Prisoners, where he played a detective, and Enemy, where he played two different characters. Critics praised his acting in both.
The next year, he produced and starred in the crime thriller Nightcrawler. He played a manipulative journalist and received nominations for a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award. His performance was called "attention-grabbing."
In 2015, Jake made his Broadway debut in the play Constellations. That same year, he starred in the comedy Accidental Love and the sports drama Southpaw, where he played a boxer. He also played mountaineer Scott Fischer in Everest, a film based on a real-life disaster. The movie was very successful. Finally, he appeared in the comedy-drama Demolition, playing an investment banker who rebuilds his life. He was also a jury member at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2016, Jake starred in the thriller Nocturnal Animals, which received good reviews. He played two different roles in the film. In October 2016, he performed in the musical Sunday in the Park with George in New York City. Critics loved his singing. He brought the show to Broadway in 2017.
In 2017, Jake starred as an astronaut in the science fiction horror film Life. He also had a supporting role in Okja and starred in Stronger. In Stronger, he played Jeff Bauman, a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing. Critics praised his amazing portrayal of Bauman. The next year, he co-starred in the drama Wildlife and the western drama The Sisters Brothers (2018).
Action and Thriller Films
Jake reunited with his Nightcrawler director, Dan Gilroy, for the thriller Velvet Buzzsaw (2019). That same year, he played the villain Mysterio in the superhero movie Spider-Man: Far From Home. This movie was one of the highest-earning films of the year. He also performed in the play Sea Wall/A Life on Broadway, earning a Tony Award nomination.
In 2021, Jake lent his voice to the animated movie Spirit Untamed. He also played a detective in the crime thriller The Guilty. In 2022, he starred as a criminal in the action thriller Ambulance. He also voiced a farmer in the Disney animation Strange World. He appeared in The Covenant (2023) and the action film Road House (2024).
In 2024, it was announced that Jake Gyllenhaal will return to Broadway in 2025. He will play Iago in William Shakespeare's play Othello, starring alongside Denzel Washington. He also joined the cast of a new science fiction monster film called The Bride!.
Jake Gyllenhaal's Personal Life
Family Connections
Jake's sister, Maggie, is married to actor Peter Sarsgaard. Peter has acted with Jake in movies like Jarhead and Rendition. In 2006, Jake and Maggie escaped a fire at a lodge where they were on vacation. They helped the owners save things from the fire.
Jake has some famous godparents. The actor and director Paul Newman was his godfather, and actress Jamie Lee Curtis is his godmother. Jake is also the godfather of Matilda Rose Ledger, the daughter of his Brokeback Mountain co-stars, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams.
Interests and Causes
Jake Gyllenhaal cares about the environment. He recycles regularly and supports programs that plant trees. After filming The Day After Tomorrow, he traveled to the Arctic to raise awareness about climate change. He has said that climate activist Greta Thunberg inspires him.
He also supports many charities. In 2003, he was part of an advertising campaign for the American Civil Liberties Union. He is an Honorary Chair for the New Eyes for the Needy organization. He also helps with the TV fundraiser Stand Up to Cancer. Jake is on the board of directors for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and has volunteered in juvenile detention centers in California. He has also helped raise money for military veterans with PTSD and survivors of the September 11 attacks.
Jake has studied Buddhism. He tries to practice mindfulness every day. He is also a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.
Awards and Recognitions
Jake Gyllenhaal has starred in many highly praised films. Some of 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. These include a BAFTA Film Award and an Independent Spirit Award. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Tony Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Jake Gyllenhaal para niños
