Hollywood Movies

  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Hollywood Movies

Jake Gyllenhaal Biography

By Rebecca Murray, About.com

Jake Gyllenhaal at the World Premiere of "Jarhead"

Photo © Richard Chavez

Jake Gyllenhaal's Birthday:

December 19, 1980

Place of Birth:

Los Angeles, CA

Jake's Famous Parents Are:

His mother is producer/screenwriter Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal and his father is director Stephen Gyllenhaal.

Interesting Family Fact:

Jake Gyllenhaal and his sister Maggie played siblings in writer/director Richard Kelly's cult fav, Donnie Darko.

How to Pronounce His Last Name:

It's pronounced Jill-en-hall and his full name is Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal.

His Big Screen Debut:

Came in 1991 playing Billy Crystal's son in City Slickers.

Breakthrough Role:

Probably October Sky although an argument could be made that it was really Donnie Darko.

Notable Movie Credits:

City Slickers (1991)
A Dangerous Woman (1993)
Josh and S.A.M. (1993)
Homegrown (1998)
October Sky (1999)
Donnie Darko (2001)
Bubble Boy (2001)
Lovely & Amazing (2001)
The Good Girl (2002)
Highway (2002)
Moonlight Mile (2002)
Proof (2005)
Jarhead (2005)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Zodiac (2006)
Rendition (2007)
Nailed (2009)
Brothers (2009)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

About.com Special Features

Movie Comedies in 2009

Find out what belly laughs are in store at the 2009 box office. More >

Scrapbook Technique Gallery

Use these ideas to inspire your own uniquely beautiful pages. More >

Hollywood Movies

  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Hollywood Movies
  4. Actors
  5. Actors Biographies
  6. Jake Gyllenhaal Biography - Jake Gyllenhaal Movies and Biography