Jake Gyllenhaal

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Image:Gyllenoctober.jpg Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal (born December 19, 1980) is a Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning American actor.

1 Biography
2 Selected filmography
3 Awards
4 External links
- 4.1 Interviews
- 4.2 Websites

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Biography

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Early life

Gyllenhaal (pronounced [[[Template:IPA]]]) 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. 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]

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.

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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 good reviews and 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 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."

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, vulnerable qualities of the lead character. He was reportedly paid $6 million for the role.

Image:Brokebackmountainjakegyllenhaal.jpg 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 of same-sex attraction. 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 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."

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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. They have been off and on since. They share custody of their dog, Atticus.

Jake`s sister Maggie is engaged to actor Peter Sarsgaard, Jakes co-star in Jarhead and announced in April 2006 they are expecting their first child.[5]

He is the godfather of Matilda, the daughter of Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, both of whom were also in Brokeback Mountain.

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Selected filmography

Image:Gyllenmile.jpg

Year	Title	Role	Other notes
2006	Zodiac	Robert Graysmith	In post-production
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
2001	Bubble Boy	Jimmy Livingston
1999	October Sky	Homer Hickam Jr.

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Awards

Year	Group	Award	Won?	Film
2006	Screen Actors Guild	Best Supporting Actor	No	Brokeback Mountain
2006	Screen Actors Guild	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
2005	Satellite Awards	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