Born:
December 19, 1980
in
Los Angeles
Best Known For:
Donnie Darko and Brokeback Mountain.
Early-life:
Born Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal on December 19, 1980, in Los Angeles, the son of film director Stephen Gyllenhaal and producer and screenwriter Naomi Foner. He's the younger brother of critically acclaimed actress Maggie Gyllenhaal and his godmother is Jamie Lee Curtis; Paul Newman gave him his first driving lesson. He was acting by the age of 11, appearing on the big screen in a brief turn as Billy Crystal's son in City Slickers in 1991, and in the little-seen kid's adventure Josh and S.A.M. in 1993. But his parents also insisted that he tackle ordinary jobs so that he would learn to appreciate his otherwise privileged upbringing.
Career:
Gyllenhaal won critical praise and an army of fans with his breakout performance in Donnie Darko in 2001. He played opposite Jennifer Aniston in another Sundance Film Festival favourite, 2002's The Good Girl, and once again earned good reviews. Marking his theatre debut, Gyllenhaal arrived on the London stage with a starring role in Kenneth Lonergan's revival of This Is Our Youth. Next he played against type as a soldier during the first Gulf War in Jarhead. His role as a sexually conflicted ranch hand in Brokeback Mountain earned him more rave reviews, and he's followed this with Zodiac, Rendition, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Source Code, Prisoners and Nightcrawler.
Quote:
'Being a star doesn't last. That's not what life should be about. It's a complete illusion that really has nothing to do with you. For me, finding out about life is the most important thing.'
Trivia:
He enjoys woodworking and cooking.