Jake Gyllenhaal

Date of Birth:19 December 1980
Place: Los Angeles, California, USA 

Gyllenhaal currently resides in Los Angeles.

With a talent and instinct beyond his years, Jake Gyllenhaal (pronounced Jill-en-hall) is on the fast track toward stardom.  Even in the early stages of his career, he has starred opposite several of today’s most respected actors such as Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Hopkins, Holly Hunter, Chris Cooper, John C. Reilly and Susan Sarandon.  He has caught the attention of audiences and critics with a series of powerful performances, and this year will be no exception.

Gyllenhaal’s next project promises to establish him as a member of Hollywood’s new generation of action stars.  In Fox’s “The Day After Tomorrow,” Gyllenhaal stars opposite Dennis Quaid in the futuristic film which depicts the devastating effects of global warming on Earth.  It will be released worldwide on May 28, 2004. This fall, he can be seen in the screen adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Proof” for director John Madden.  The Miramax film also stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins.

Gyllenhaal recently landed the coveted role of “Jack” in Focus Features’ adaptation of “Brokedown Mountain.”  The film, which chronicles an intense relationship between two Wyoming stockmen, will be directed by Ang Lee and costars Heath Ledger. The high-profile project will go into production this summer.
Gyllenhaal was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for best actor in the critically acclaimed “Donnie Darko.”  A favorite at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, the New Market release combines elements of mystical fantasy and science fiction with teenage romance.  The film, directed by first-time director Richard Kelly, co-stars Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone, and Noah Wyle. 

Gyllenhaal starred in another Sundance favorite in 2002, “The Good Girl.”  In the dark comedy, he portrays a young man who falls in love and has a torid affair with a married woman (played by Jennifer Aniston). The film is directed by Miguel Arteta, and also stars  John C. Reilly, Zooey Deschanel, and Tim Blake Nelson.  The film was distributed by Fox Searchlight.

This past fall, Gyllenhaal starred in the Touchstone film, "Moonlight Mile," written and directed by Brad Silberling.  Set in New England in the early 70s, the unlikely love story revolves around a young man who finds himself lingering in the family home of his fiancee, after her untimely death.  While grieving along with her parents, played by Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon, he gets drawn into legal issues presented by a district attorney (Holly Hunter) seeking justice for the family, and finds himself falling in love with another woman against his own best intentions.

Marking his theater debut, Gyllenhaal’s most recent endeavor took him across the Atlantic to the London stage with a starring role in Kenneth Lonergan’s revival of “This Is Our Youth.”  The play, which was a critical sensation on Broadway, ran for eight weeks in London’s West End.  Gyllenhaal portrayed a rich kid who spends a decadent weekend stealing, dealing, and consuming drugs along side Hayden Christensen and Anna Paquin.  For the role, Gyllenhaal received an Evening Standard Theater Award in the category of “Outstanding Newcomer.”

Gyllenhaal’s other recent projects include Lions Gate Fims’ "Lovely and Amazing,” a comedy starring Catherine Keener and Brenda Blethyn. The film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival and was released this summer.

Gyllenhaal also starred in the Walt Disney romantic comedy, "Bubble Boy."  The film is the story of his adventure outside the confines of his bubble as he goes after the woman he loves before she marries the wrong man.  "Bubble Boy" also starred Swoosie Kurtz and Marley Shelton and was directed by Blair Hayes. 

Gyllenhaal was first given notice for his heartwarming performance in the Universal film, "October Sky," directed by Joe Johnston. The film tells the triumphant story of Homer Hickman, Jr. (Gyllenhaal), a gifted high school student in rural West Virginia, who seemed destined to repeat his father's harsh life in the coal mines until he
turned his attention upward to the skies.  The film also starred Chris Owen, William Lee Scott, Chad Lindberg and Laura Dern. 

 
Gyllenhaal's previous credits include the films "Josh and S.A.M." and "Dangerous Woman" with Debra Winger.  He also played Billy Crystal's son in the hit film "City
Slickers" and Robin Williams' son in the highly acclaimed "Bop Gun" episode of the television series "Homicide."

Filmography

Nailed of de David O. Russell(2009)
Untitled Moon Project of Doug Liman(2009)
Brothers of Jim Sheridan(2008)
Rendition of Gavin Hood(2007)
Zodiac of David Fincher(2007)
Jarhead (2005)
Proof (2005)
Brokeback Mountain of Ang Lee(2005)
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (2005)
The Day After Tomorrow of Roland Emmerich(2004)
Moonlight Mile de Brad Silberling(2008)
Highway of de James Cox(2002)
The Good Girl of Miguel Arteta(2002)
Lovely & Amazing of Nicole Holofcener(2001)
Bubble Boy of Blair Hayes(2001)
Donnie Darko of Richard Kelly(2001)
October Sky of Joe Johnston(1999)
Homegrown (1998)
Josh and S.A.M. of de Billy Weber(1993)
A Dangerous Woman of de Stephen Gyllenhaal(1993)
City Slickers of Ron Underwood(1991)