Biography: Jacob Benjamin "Jake" Gyllenhaal (last name pronounced Jill-en-hall) is an American actor. His father is director Stephen Gyllenhaal, mother is screenwriter Naomi Foner, and sister is actress Maggie G...( read more )yllenhaal. Jake began acting at age eleven in the movie "City Slickers", and his short career has seen performances in diverse roles. He has received an Academy Award nomination and won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award. Gyllenhaal's most notable film include the 2001 cult hit Donnie Darko, the 2004 blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, Jarhead (2005) and the controversial film Brokeback Mountain. Gyllenhaal has taken an activist role in supporting political and social causes. He appeared in Rock the Vote advertising, campaigned for the Democratic party in the 2004 election, and has promoted environmental causes and the American Civil Liberties Union