Jake Gyllenhaal
Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal (born December 19, 1980) is an Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning American actor.
Biography
Early life
Gyllenhaal (pronounced ['dʒɪlənhɑl]) 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 Jewish American family from New York City; she is the ex-wife of Eric Foner[1], a well known historian at Columbia University. Gyllenhaal was raised in the Jewish religion 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] 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.
He graduated from the Harvard-Westlake School in 1998 and 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 began to establish himself as an up-and-coming actor in such films as 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 good reviews and Lovely and Amazing with Catherine Keeneer. Gyllenhaal also starred in the Touchstone Pictures's 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 science fiction movie, 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."
Gyllenhaal and his sister Maggie appeared on an episode of Molto Mario (an Italian cooking show on the Food Network featuring Chef Mario Batali), apparently as regular guests and friends, rather than celebrities. He asked many questions, about which he expressed embarrassment during an interview on Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
His performance in Jarhead (2005) came as a surprise to critics and fans alike. Gyllenhaal played against type, displaying a markedly hostile masculinity as a violent Marine during the first Gulf War, while balancing this with the sensitive, vulnerable qualities of the lead character. Gyllenhaal was reportedly paid $6,000,000 for the role.
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]. When asked for his thoughts on playing a character who falls in love with another man, Gyllenhaal replied that he believed that every man goes through a period where they have same sex attractions. However, he later told Details magazine, "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." On January 31, 2006, Gyllenhaal 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.
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."
Private 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 2004They have been off and on since. They share custody of their dog, Atticus. He has been spotted according to the British magazine, Heat with actress Natalie Portman looking cozy but Portman has been friends with the Gyllenhaals/Foners for years.
His Godmother is actress Jamie Lee Curtis.
He is the godfather to Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams daughter, Matilda. Ledger and Willimas starred in Brokeback Mountain with Gyllenhaal.
He is friends with Adam Levine, Maroon 5 , friends since childhood, and he seems to bond with most of his co-stars and carries his friendships well after filming has ended. Those friendships include his co-stars from Jarhead,Jaime Foxx, and Peter Sarsgaard who is also dating his sister, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jennifer Aniston, The Good Girl.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Zodiac | Robert Graysmith | Filming |
| 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" |
| 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 |
External links
Interviews
- USA Weekend interview (October 30, 2005)
Web sites
- myspace group
- "Jake's official place in cyberspace"
- Jake Gyllenhaal fan site
- Gyllenhaal, family history
- "Official Jake Gyllenhaal Fan Haal- Home of the GYLLENHAALICS"
- Netribution interview
- I Heart Jake Newspaper (subsection of fansite iheartjake.com) comprehensive, up-to-date collection of Jake Gyllenhaal-based news, interviews and media reports
- A timeline of his life
- Article on Jake Gyllenhaal fashion sense
- Jake Gyllenhaal at IMDb
- www.gyllenhaalic.buzznet.com is an interactive fan site with lots of pictures!