Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal was born on December 19, 1980, in Los Angeles, California. He began his acting career in the early 1990s with roles in television series and films. Gyllenhaal’s breakthrough role came in 2001 with his performance in “Donnie Darko,” which led to roles in films such as “Brokeback Mountain,” “Zodiac,” and “Nightcrawler.” His performance in “Brokeback Mountain” earned him critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination.