With a talent and instinct beyond his years, Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (pronounced Jill-en-hall) is on the fast track toward stardom. Even in the early stages of his career, he has starred opposite several of today's most respected actors such as Heath Ledger, Dustin Hoffman, Laura Dern, Holly Hunter, Chris Cooper, John C. Reilly and Susan Sarandon. He has caught the attention of audiences and critics with a series of powerful performances, and this year will be no exception.

He established himself as a member of Hollywood's new generation of action stars. In Fox's THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, Gyllenhaal starred opposite Dennis Quaid in the futuristic film which depicted the devastating effects of global warming on Earth. He was in the adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play PROOF for director John Madden. The Miramax film also starred Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins.

Gyllenhaal earned his first Oscar nomination for the coveted role of "Jack" in Focus Features' highly acclaimed BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. The film, which chronicled an intense relationship between two Wyoming stockmen, was directed by Ang Lee and costarred Heath Ledger.

Gyllenhaal was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for best actor in the critically acclaimed DONNIE DARKO. A favorite at the Sundance Film Festival, the New Market release combines elements of mystical fantasy and science fiction with teenage romance. The film, directed by first-time director Richard Kelly, co-stars Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone and Noah Wyle.

Gyllenhaal starred in another Sundance favorite in 2002, THE GOOD GIRL. In the dark comedy, he portrays a young man who falls in love and has a torid 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.

Gyllenhaal also starred in the Touchstone film, MOONLIGHT MILE, written and directed by Brad Silberling. Set in New England in the early 70s, the unlikely love story revolved around a young man who finds himself lingering in the family home of his fiancee, 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.

Marking his theater debut, Gyllenhaal appeared on the London stage with a starring role in 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. Gyllenhaal 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."

Gyllenhaal's other projects include Lions Gate Fims' LOVELY AND AMAZING, a comedy starring Catherine Keener and Brenda Blethyn. The film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival and was released last summer. He was also seen in "Highway," a story of self-discovery in which he stars opposite Jared Leto and Selma Blair as a pair of best friends who travel to Seattle after Kurt Cobain's death to escape their dreary lives in Las Vegas.

Gyllenhaal also starred in the Walt Disney romantic comedy, BUBBLE BOY. The film is the story of his adventure outside the confines of his bubble as he goes after the woman he loves before she marries the wrong man. BUBBLE BOY also starred Swoosie Kurtz and Marley Shelton and was directed by Blair Hayes.

Gyllenhaal was first given notice for his heartwarming performance in the Universal 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. The film also starred Chris Owen, William Lee Scott, Chad Lindberg and Laura Dern.

Gyllenhaal's previous credits include the films "Josh and S.A.M." and "Dangerous Woman" with Debra Winger. 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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