Jake Gyllenhaal

Profile
Name: Jake Gyllenhaal
Birth Name: Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal
Height: 6'
Sex: M
Nationality: American
Birth Date: December 19, 1980
Birth Place: Los Angeles, California, USA
Profession: actor
Education: Harvard-Westlake, Sherman Oaks, California (graduated in 1998)
Columbia University in New York, New York
Relationship: Kirsten Dunst (actress; born on April 30, 1082; dated 2002- 2004)
Father: Stephen Gyllenhaal (director; born on October 4, 1949)
Mother: Naomi Foner (writer)
Sister: Maggie Gyllenhaal (actress; born on November 16, 1977)
Claim to fame: played the disturbed title character in Donnie Darko (2001)

Biography
As the offspring of producer/writer Naomi Foner and director Stephen Gyllenhaal, it is not surprising that Jake Gyllenhaal has been acting since childhood. Raised in Los Angeles, Jake Gyllenhaal acted in school plays and made his winsome screen debut when he was in the fifth grade, playing Billy Crystal's son in the blockbuster summer comedy City Slickers (1991). Keeping it in the family, while acting with some of the industry's most notable talents, Jake Gyllenhaal subsequently appeared in his parents' 1993 adaptation of the novel A Dangerous Woman with Debra Winger, and played Robin Williams' son in a 1994 episode of TV's Homicide that was directed by Jake Gyllenhaal's father.

Poised to make the transition from child to adult actor, Jake Gyllenhaal earned rave reviews heralding him as a star-in-the-making for his emotionally sincere performance as real life rocket builder Homer Hickam in the warmly received drama October Sky (1999). Though he opted to stay in school and attend college at Columbia University, Jake Gyllenhaal continued his creative pursuits, playing in a rock band and starring as the oddball title character alongside Drew Barrymore in the Barrymore-produced Sundance Film Festival entrant Donnie Darko (2001). Jake Gyllenhaal could be seen later that same year in multiplexes everywhere as the titular character in the ill-fated Bubble Boy.

After co-starring on the London stage in This Is Our Youth in spring 2002, Jake Gyllenhaal was declared one half of Entertainment Weekly’s "It Gene Pool" (with sister Maggie Gyllenhaal) for his aversion to taking the easy teen flick route. In keeping with his preference for off-center work, Jake Gyllenhaal coincidentally played the younger love object of choice in two consecutive indie comedies, appearing as Catherine Keener’s sensitive boss in Nicole Holofcener’s slyly witty Lovely & Amazing (2002) and Jennifer Aniston’s enticing yet disturbed co-worker in Miguel Arteta’s sardonic The Good Girl (2002). As further proof that he had the acting chops to go with his sad-eyed good looks, Jake Gyllenhaal subsequently co-starred with Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon as a young man enmeshed in his dead fiancée’s family in Moonlight Mile (2002).

With his star on the rise and his status as a heartthrob cemented, it became impossible for Jake Gyllenhaal to avoid the draw of a big summer blockbuster. In 2004, he starred alongside Dennis Quaid in the mega-budgeted The Day After Tomorrow.

Filmography
Actor
2007 Rendition
2007 Zodiac
2005 Proof
2005 Jarhead
2005 Brokeback Mountain
2004 Jiminy Glick in La La Wood
2004 The Day After Tomorrow
2002 Moonlight Mile
2002 The Good Girl
2001 Lovely & Amazing
2001 Bubble Boy
2001 Highway
2001 Donnie Darko
1999 October Sky
1994 Homicide: Life on the Street - Bop Gun
1993 A Dangerous Woman
1993 Josh and S.A.M.
1991 City Slickers

Awards
Academy
2005 Best Supporting Actor Brokeback Mountain

British Academy Awards
2005 Best Supporting Actor Brokeback Mountain

Broadcast Film Critics Association
2005 Best Supporting Actor Brokeback Mountain

Chicago Film Critics Association
2005 Best Supporting Actor Brokeback mountain

Independent Spirit Award
2001 Best Actor Donnie Darko

National Board of Review
2005 Best Supporting Actor Brokeback Mountain

Online Film Critics Association
2005 Best Supporting Actor Brokeback Mountain

Phoenix Film Critics Association
2005 Best Supporting Actor Brokeback Mountain

Screen Actors Guild
2005 Best Supporting Actor Brokeback Mountain

Trivia

Shazam! screenwriter John August has debunked the rumor that Gyllenhaal will play Captain Marvel on his official website. (March 20, 2007)

Jake and his sister Maggie escaped without injury after being caught up in a fire at a California inn. The two were staying at Manka's Inverness Lodge in Marin County for Christmas when a tree fell on the structure, sparking the fire. (December 27, 2006)

Denies rumors claiming he will reunite with his BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN co-star Heath Ledger in the forthcoming BATMAN BEGINS sequel, THE DARK NIGHT. (October 11, 2006)

Is to play cycling legend Lance Armstrong in a movie about his life. (August 24, 2006)

Gyllenhaal and Keira Knightley have been spotted on a series of dates in Los Angeles - sparking rumors they are an item. (March 8, 2006)

Urinated in a water tank while he was filming THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW. He admits he was so desperate to relieve himself while he was on set he couldn't make it to a bathroom in time.

The shirt he wore portraying gay cowboy Jack Twist in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN sold for $101,100 on auction website eBay. (February 23, 2006)

Is being touted as Gotham City district attorney Harvey Dent in the next Batman sequel. (February 8, 2006)

Loves the gay fan-base his role as a camp cowboy has brought him. (January 10, 2006)

Says he is flattered by rumors that he is bisexual, especially in light of his role in the BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. (November 23, 2005)

Gyllenhaal and Kirsten Dunst deny reports they are engaged to be married. (April 11, 2005)

Kirsten Dunst said he’s a great cook.

Kirsten Dunst and Jake Gyllenhaal have ended their romance. (July 21, 2004)

Said he loved starring in THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, but on several occasions refused to say some of the lines in the script and suggested new ones. (May 29, 2004)

Jake Gyllenhaal and Kirsten Dunst purchased a pair of rings to show their undying love for each other. (September 12, 2003)

Gyllenhaal, THE GOOD GIRL actor, has nothing but respect for co-star Jennifer Aniston because she was so hardworking on set; the pair, who play forbidden lovers in the film, got on very well in real life and even shared their insecurities about acting. (October 8, 2002)

Sometimes credited as: Jacob Gyllenhaal

'Gyllenhaal' is pronounced Jill-en-hall.

Is of Swedish descent.

Played brother to real life sister Maggie Gyllenhaal in their movie DONNIE DARKO (2001).

Received his first driving lesson from Paul Newman.

His fans refer to themselves as Gyllenhaalics