JAKE GYLLENHAAL (Sam Hall) has starred opposite several of today’s most respected actors such as Dustin Hoffman, Laura Dern, Holly Hunter, Chris Cooper, John C. Reilly and Susan Sarandon.
Gyllenhaal (pronounced Jill-en-hall) stars in the screen adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Proof” for director John Madden. The film, due in December, also stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. He also landed the coveted role of “Jack” in the film adaptation of “Broken Mountain,” which chronicles an intense relationship between two Wyoming stockmen. Directed by Ang Lee, the film costars Heath Ledger and goes into production this summer.
Gyllenhaal was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead in the critically acclaimed “Donnie Darko.” A favorite at the Sundance Film Festival, the film combines elements of mystical fantasy and science fiction with teenage romance. Directed by Richard Kelly, “Donnie Darko” costars Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone and Noah Wyle.
He starred in another Sundance favorite in 2002, Fox Searchlight’s “The Good Girl,” which received four 2003 Independent Spirit Award nominations. In the dark comedy, he portrays a young man who falls in love and has a torrid 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 Catherine O' Hara. The film was distributed by Fox Searchlight.
In fall 2002, he starred in “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 fiancée, 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.
Gyllenhaal’s stage debut was a starring role in the London production of 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. He 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.
His film credits also include “Lovely and Amazing,” a comedy starring Catherine Keener and Brenda Blethyn. Gyllenhaal starred in the romantic comedy “Bubble Boy,” the story of a young man’s adventure outside the confines of his bubble as he goes after the woman he loves before she marries the wrong man.
He received critical accolades for his performance in the 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.
Gyllenhaal’s previous credits include the films “Josh and S.A.M.” and “Dangerous Woman.” 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.”
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