Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal was born in Los Angeles on December 19, 1980. His parents were both involved in the film industry; his mother, Naomi Foner, is a producer/screenwriter, and his father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, is a director. His sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, is also an actress who has appeared with him on screen.

In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Gyllenhaal built his acting career with roles in October Sky and Donnie Darko, prominent favorites among teens today. His breakthrough came in 2005, with the movie Brokeback Mountain, also starring the late Heath Ledger. For this film, Gyllenhaal earned critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Throughout his career, Gyllenhaal has embraced complex and psychological characters, like Lou Bloom in Nightcrawler, Robert Graysmith in Zodiac, and Detective Loki in Prisoners. His filmography includes eerie, emotional, and intense movies that build upon his unique persona.

So, why is Gyllenhaal worthy of more praise than he has received? 

He is known, but not immensely acknowledged, for his incredible career. He has distinguished himself from other actors of his generation by dedicating and fully immersing himself in each one of his roles. He hasn’t yet won a single Oscar or any other prestigious awards, despite being such an outstanding actor.

One of Gyllenhaal’s best performances was in the film Nightcrawler, where he delivers a phenomenal performance by portraying a psychologically challenged freelance news cameraman. He later revealed to Entertainment Weekly that weight loss was an issue that he faced on the set.

By taking on the diet of chewing gum, eating kale salads, and going on fifteen-mile runs every day, the actor lost over thirty pounds and allowed himself to take on the physical features of a mentally unstable paparazzo. He faced anorexia for the sake of this thriller.

Due to this sudden change in physique, Gyllenhaal’s eyes bulged and his cheeks sunk in. His facial expressions, along with his ability to create uncomfortable characters, are just what this movie needed. Nightcrawler was yet another breakthrough in his career, and it won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.

A similar situation occurred when Gyllenhaal took on the role of Billy Hope in Southpaw, which follows a resilient boxer who tries to return to the ring after a tragic loss in his life. It is said that Gyllenhaal put on fifteen pounds of muscle for this role, after he went through hard training, twice a day, for four months. Director Antoine Fuqua also asked him to do two-a-day workouts, every day of the week, for two months.

Fuqua later said that he watched Gyllenhaal throw up and almost pass out after such harsh training, in order to achieve the body of a real “Raging Bull”. Gyllenhaal refused to rely on a stunt double and pushed his body to do more and more. This commitment is clear when you watch his emotional and inspiring performance.

In Stronger, Gyllenhaal took on the lead role of Jeff Bauman, a survivor of the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013. Rather than leaning into the melodrama, he delivers an excellent, raw performance, focusing on the psychological toll caused by his traumatic injury. While Gyllenhaal earned critical praise for his work here, little to no attention has been given to this film.

Gyllenhaal also endured other method acting techniques to prepare for his role as a mountaineer in the movie Everest, such as simulating altitude sickness in a hypobaric chamber and trekking into Italy’s Dolomite Mountains. There are plenty of other films in which he is featured, but his devotion to his characters is conveyed through these amazing movies. 

Although many actors and actresses show strict commitment to their work, Jake Gyllenhaal is mostly overlooked. Almost all of his roles are either exceptional or beyond fantastic. Despite only earning one Academy Award nomination so far, only time will tell if that Oscar will one day appear in his hands.

So if you’re in the mood for pure talent, definitely take a deep dive into his movies. You will not be disappointed.