Jacob "Jake" Benjamin Gyllenhaal (born December 19, 1980) is an Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning American actor.
Biography
Early life
Gyllenhaal was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and producer/screenwriter Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal. His father grew up in the Swedenborgian religion and is a descendant of the Swedish noble Gyllenhaal family. His mother is from a New York City Jewish American family; she is the ex-wife of Eric Foner[1], a history professor at Columbia University. His sister Maggie Gyllenhaal is also an actor. Gyllenhaal was raised Jewish and had a bar mitzvah at a homeless shelter, as his parents wanted to instill a sense of gratitude for his privileged lifestyle.[2][3]
He graduated from the Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles in 1998, then studied at Columbia University for two years, but dropped out to concentrate on his acting career.
Career
Gyllenhaal made his film debut at age eleven in City Slickers (1991) and was in October Sky (1999) before being cast in the title role in Donnie Darko (2001), for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for best actor. Gyllenhaal's performance as a troubled psychotic won him excellent reviews and the film quickly acquired cult status. He played opposite Jennifer Aniston in another Sundance favourite in 2002's The Good Girl and once again earned critical acclaim for his role in Lovely and Amazing with Catherine Keener. Gyllenhaal also starred in the Touchstone Pictures romantic comedy Bubble Boy. Loosely based on the story of David Vetter, the film portrays the title character's adventure outside the confines of his bubble as he goes after the woman he loves before she marries the wrong man. He also starred in The Day After Tomorrow (2004), which co-starred Dennis Quaid.
Marking his theatre debut, he appeared on the London stage with a starring role in Kenneth Lonergan's revival of This Is Our Youth. The play, which had been a critical sensation on Broadway, ran for eight weeks in London's West End. For his role, Gyllenhaal received an Evening Standard Theatre Award in the category of "Outstanding Newcomer."
His sister Maggie is also an actress and played his sister in Donnie Darko, as well as appearing with him in the film A Dangerous Woman.
They both appeared on an episode of Molto Mario (an Italian cooking show on the Food Network featuring Chef Mario Batali).
In Jarhead (2005) Gyllenhaal played against type, displaying a markedly hostile masculinity as a violent Marine during the first Gulf War, while balancing this with the sensitive, conflicted vulnerable qualities of the lead character.
Brokeback Mountain (2005), which stars Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as sheep herders who secretly fall in love in the 1960s won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival (2005). The film went on to win four Golden Globes, four BAFTA Awards and three Academy Awards. It is officially the most honored film in cinematic history[4]. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor for this performance. He also won the Best Supporting Actor BAFTA for the same role and received a best supporting actor nomination and best film ensemble nomination from the Screen Actors Guild.
Gyllenhaal has expressed some mixed feelings about the experience of being directed by Ang Lee on Brokeback Mountain, but overall has had more praise than criticism for his directing style. While he has had complaints about the way in which Lee tends to disconnect with his actors once filming has begun, he has also had much praise for other aspects of his filmmaking style, especially the in-depth preparations that Lee makes with the actors before filming begins, and the sensitivity with which he approaches the material in the film. At the Director's Guild of America awards on January 28, 2006, Gyllenhaal also praised Lee for "his humbleness and his respect for everyone around him."
When asked about the kissing scenes with Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain, Gyllenhaal stated that "As an actor, I think we need to embrace the times we feel most uncomfortable."
Personal life
Gyllenhaal's most notable relationship has been with actress Kirsten Dunst. Introduced through his sister, the two began dating in September 2002 and officially broke up in July 2004, though were on-off again for another year before finally ending the relationship for good. They share custody of their dog, Atticus Finch. Jake also owns a puggle called Boo Radley.
Jake's sister Maggie is engaged to actor Peter Sarsgaard, Jake's co-star in Jarhead and they announced in April 2006 that they are expecting their first child.[5] His godmother is Jamie Lee Curtis.[6] He is the godfather of Matilda, the daughter of Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, both of whom were in Brokeback Mountain.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Zodiac | Robert Graysmith | In post-production (Due Out In November 2006.) |
| 2005 | Brokeback Mountain | Jack Twist | Academy Award nomination - Best Supporting Actor BAFTA Award winner - Best Supporting Actor National Board of Review winner - "Best Supporting Actor" Screen Actors Guild Award nomination - Best Supporting Actor, Best Cast of a Motion Picture |
| Jarhead | Anthony Swofford ("Swoff") | Satellite Awards nomination - "Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama" | |
| Proof | Harold 'Hal' Dobbs | ||
| 2004 | The Day After Tomorrow | Sam Hall | |
| 2002 | Highway | Pilot Kelson | |
| Moonlight Mile | Joe Nast | ||
| The Good Girl | Thomas 'Holden' Worther | Teen Choice Awards nominee - "Choice Movie Breakout Star - Male" | |
| 2001 | Donnie Darko | Donnie Darko | Independent Spirit Awards nomination - "Best Male Lead" - Chlotrudis Awards: Best Actor |
| Bubble Boy | Jimmy Livingston | ||
| 1999 | October Sky | Homer Hickam Jr. |
Awards
| Year | Group | Award | Won? | Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Screen Actors Guild | Best Supporting Actor | No | Brokeback Mountain |
| Best Ensemble | No | Brokeback Mountain | ||
| 2006 | Critics' Choice Award | Best Supporting Actor | No | Brokeback Mountain |
| 2005 | BAFTA | Best Supporting Actor | Yes | Brokeback Mountain |
| 2005 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | No | Brokeback Mountain |
| 2005 | Satellite Awards | Outstanding Actor | No | Jarhead |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor | No | Brokeback Mountain | ||
| 2002 | Young Hollywood Awards | Breakthrough Performance - Male | Yes | |
| 2005 | National Board of Review | Best Supporting Actor | Yes | Brokeback Mountain |
External links
Interviews
- USA Weekend interview (October 30, 2005)
- Netribution interview
Websites
- JakeGyllenhaal.com - Official site
- Official Home of the Gyllenhaalics
- IHeartJake.com - Fan site
- Gyllenhaal.org - Family history
- Jake Gyllenhaal at IMDb
- A timeline of his life
It has been suggested Jake may read certain fansites and Blogs [7],[8](11th comment)