Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles, California (graduated in 1998).
Nationality :
American
Profession :
Actor
Claim to Fame :
Played the disturbed title character in Donnie Darko (2001)
Sometimes called :
Jacob Gyllenhaal
Dropped out of Columbia University after two years (2002).
Son of Stephen Gyllenhaal and Naomi Foner
Graduated Harvard-Westlake (private) high school [1998]
Brother of Maggie Gyllenhaal
Is of Swedish (noble) and Russian-Jewish 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"
His last name is pronounced Jill-en-hall.
Sister Maggie Gyllenhaal introduced him to Kirsten Dunst. Jake and Kirsten dated, but broke up in July 2004. (Both Kirsten and Maggie appeared in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)).
He was awarded the 2002 London Evening Standard Theate Award for Outstanding Newcomer for his performance in This is Our Youth at the Garrick Theatre in London, England.
Was set to play Spiderman in Spider-Man 2 (2004) due to complications with Tobey Maguire. While he was preparing for the role, Maguire was back as Spiderman.
Attended high school with "Freaks and Geeks" (1999) star Jason Segel.
Was named one of People Magazine's 50 Hottest Bachelors [2004]
Is close friends with Natalie Portman and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Went to elementary school with band members of Maroon 5.
On Phantom Planet's album "The Guest", lead singer Alex Greenwald lists him in his thank yous. Alex appeared with Jake in Donnie Darko (2001).
Born on the same day as actress Marla Sokoloff.
His favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird, and he has a dog, Atticus, named after its main character.
Auditioned for the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins (2005).
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 fianc?e?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.
