Career Timeline of Jake Gyllenhaal: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Jake Gyllenhaal built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Jake Gyllenhaal is an American actor with a career spanning three decades across film and stage. Born into a filmmaking family, with director Stephen Gyllenhaal as his father and actress Maggie Gyllenhaal as his sister, he debuted in "City Slickers" (1991). He gained recognition with leading roles in "October Sky" (1999) and "Donnie Darko" (2001). He further transitioned into mainstream cinema with his role in the disaster film "The Day After Tomorrow" (2004).
1991: Acting Debut in City Slickers
In 1991, Jake Gyllenhaal made his acting debut as Billy Crystal's son in the comedy film City Slickers.
1993: Appearance in A Dangerous Woman
In 1993, Jake Gyllenhaal appeared in the film A Dangerous Woman along with his sister Maggie Gyllenhaal.
1994: Appearance in Homicide: Life on the Street
In 1994, Jake Gyllenhaal appeared in the "Bop Gun" episode of Homicide: Life on the Street.
1998: Appearance in Homegrown
In 1998, Jake Gyllenhaal appeared in the comedy film Homegrown, directed by his father.
1999: Starring Role in October Sky
In 1999, Jake Gyllenhaal had his breakthrough role as Homer Hickam in October Sky, a biographical film about a young man striving to win a science scholarship.
1999: Release of October Sky
In 1999, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in 'October Sky', which became one of his most acclaimed films, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
2001: Appearance in Donnie Darko with Maggie Gyllenhaal
In 2001, Jake Gyllenhaal and his older sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, appeared together in the science fiction psychological thriller film Donnie Darko.
2001: Starring in Donnie Darko
In 2001, Jake Gyllenhaal played his second lead role in the film Donnie Darko. Initially not a box office success, it later became a cult favorite.
2001: Support to 9/11 Survivors
In 2017, Jake Gyllenhaal participated in a fundraiser to help survivors who lost limbs during the September 11 attacks in 2001, supporting victims of the tragedy.
2002: Release of Lovely & Amazing
In 2002, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in 'Lovely & Amazing', which became one of his most acclaimed films, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
2002: Roles in Highway, The Good Girl, Lovely and Amazing, and Bubble Boy
In 2002, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in Highway, The Good Girl, Lovely and Amazing, and Bubble Boy. His performance in Highway was poorly received, while The Good Girl and Lovely and Amazing saw him playing unstable characters. Bubble Boy was also critically panned.
2002: Starring in Moonlight Mile and This Is Our Youth
In 2002, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in Moonlight Mile and made his theatrical debut on the London stage in Kenneth Lonergan's revival of This Is Our Youth. He received favorable reviews and an Evening Standard Theatre Award for his performance in This Is Our Youth.
2002: West End Debut in This Is Our Youth
In 2002, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in a West End production of the play This Is Our Youth.
2003: Audition for Batman Begins
In 2003, Jake Gyllenhaal auditioned for the role of Batman in the superhero film Batman Begins.
2003: Advertising Campaign with American Civil Liberties Union
In 2003, Jake Gyllenhaal participated in an advertising campaign by the American Civil Liberties Union, showing his support for civil rights and liberties.
2004: Starring in The Day After Tomorrow
In 2004, Jake Gyllenhaal expanded to big-budget films with a starring role in the disaster film The Day After Tomorrow.
2004: Possibility of being cast as Spider-Man and Appearance in The Day After Tomorrow
In 2004, Jake Gyllenhaal was almost cast as Spider-Man in Spider-Man 2 due to concerns about Tobey Maguire's health, but Maguire recovered. Gyllenhaal also appeared in the science fiction blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow.
2005: Starring in Brokeback Mountain
In 2005, Jake Gyllenhaal played Jack Twist in the romantic drama Brokeback Mountain, for which he won a BAFTA Award and was nominated for an Academy Award.
2005: Roles in Proof and Jarhead
In 2005, Jake Gyllenhaal was cast in the drama Proof and also starred in Sam Mendes's Jarhead, playing a U.S. Marine during the first Gulf War. Both films received generally positive responses.
2007: Release of Zodiac
In 2007, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in 'Zodiac', which became one of his most acclaimed films, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
2007: Starring Role in Zodiac
In 2007, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in the thriller Zodiac.
2009: Starring in Brothers with Tobey Maguire
In 2009, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in the film Brothers alongside Tobey Maguire.
November 24, 2010: Release of Love & Other Drugs
On November 24, 2010, Love & Other Drugs, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, was released. Gyllenhaal received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in the film. The Guardian's Philip French welcomed Gyllenhaal's choice of a comic role.
2010: Starring in Love & Other Drugs
In 2010, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in the romantic comedy Love & Other Drugs.
2011: Release of Source Code
In 2011, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in 'Source Code', which became one of his most acclaimed films, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
February 2012: Jury Member at Berlin International Film Festival
In February 2012, Jake Gyllenhaal served as a jury member for the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival.
September 2012: Release of End of Watch
In September 2012, End of Watch, an action thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña as Los Angeles street cops, was released. Gyllenhaal also served as an executive producer for the film. The movie received positive reviews.
2012: Release of End of Watch
In 2012, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in 'End of Watch', which became one of his most acclaimed films, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
2013: Roles in Prisoners and Enemy
In 2013, Jake Gyllenhaal gained further acclaim for his roles in Denis Villeneuve's thrillers Prisoners and Enemy.
2014: Attendance at Headstrong Project Benefit
In 2014, Jake Gyllenhaal attended an event that benefited the Headstrong Project, an organization providing treatment to military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, where he read a poem by a veteran.
2014: Nomination for Nightcrawler
In 2014, Jake Gyllenhaal received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance as a manipulative journalist in Nightcrawler.
2014: Broadway Production of Constellations
In 2014, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in a Broadway production of the play Constellations.
January 2015: Broadway Debut in Constellations
In January 2015, Jake Gyllenhaal debuted on Broadway in Nick Payne's Constellations at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre opposite Ruth Wilson. The production closed in March of the same year.
October 2016: Performance in Sunday in the Park with George
In October 2016, Jake Gyllenhaal appeared in four benefit concert performances of the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical Sunday in the Park with George at the New York City Center. Alexis Soloski of The Guardian gave the performance a perfect five-star review and hailed Gyllenhaal's superb singing.
2016: Nomination for Nocturnal Animals
In 2016, Jake Gyllenhaal received a BAFTA Award nomination for his performance as a troubled writer in Nocturnal Animals.
February 2017: Reprising Role in Sunday in the Park with George
In February 2017, Jake Gyllenhaal reprised his role in Sunday in the Park with George at the reopened Hudson Theatre on Broadway. Ben Brantley of The New York Times praised his "searing theatrical presence".
2017: Participation in Fundraiser for 9/11 Survivors
In 2017, Jake Gyllenhaal participated in a fundraiser to help survivors who lost limbs during the September 11 attacks in 2001, supporting victims of the tragedy.
2017: Release of Stronger
In 2017, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in 'Stronger', which became one of his most acclaimed films, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
2017: Broadway Debut in Sunday in the Park with George
In 2017, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in a Broadway production of the musical Sunday in the Park with George.
2018: Supporting Role in Wildlife
In 2018, Jake Gyllenhaal played a supporting role in the drama Wildlife.
2019: Role in Spider-Man: Far From Home
In 2019, Jake Gyllenhaal played Mysterio / Quentin Beck in Spider-Man: Far From Home, a sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming, set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was one of the highest-grossing films of the year.
2019: Broadway Production of Sea Wall/A Life
In 2019, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in a Broadway production of the play Sea Wall/A Life, which earned him a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.
2021: Voice Role in Spirit Untamed
In 2021, Jake Gyllenhaal lent his voice for the animation Spirit Untamed.
2021: Starring in The Guilty
In 2021, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in the action thriller The Guilty.
2022: Starring in Ambulance
In 2022, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in the action thriller Ambulance.
June 2024: Cast in The Bride!
In June 2024, Jake Gyllenhaal joined the cast of the upcoming science fiction monster film The Bride! in an undisclosed role.
2024: Starring in Road House and Presumed Innocent
In 2024, Jake Gyllenhaal starred in the film Road House and the series Presumed Innocent.
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