'That changed a lot for me': Jake Gyllenhaal says Heath Ledger's death eight years ago brought home to him reality of mortality

By Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

Published: 23:18 EST, 6 April 2016 | Updated: 04:02 EST, 7 April 2016

It's eight years since Heath Ledger died from an accidental prescription drug overdose, but his Brokeback Mountain co-star Jake Gyllenhaal still feels it.

The actor, 35, told People that the Australian's death in 2008 had a profound effect on both his personal and his professional life.

'In terms of professionally, I think I was at an age where mortality was not always clear to me,' he said. 'Personally, it affected me in ways I can't necessarily put in words or even would want to talk about publicly.'

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Made mortality real: Jake Gyllenhaal has said that the death of actor Heath Ledger still has a profound influence on him, personally and professionally

Made mortality real: Jake Gyllenhaal has said that the death of actor Heath Ledger still has a profound influence on him, personally and professionally

Gyllenhaal and Ledger played cowboys who fell in love with other in the 2005 film by Ang Lee.

Each garnered an Oscar nomination for their performances in the ground-breaking movie.

Ledger also fell in love with his co-star Michelle Williams and went on to have a daughter Matilda with the actress.

'We were super young,"Gyllenhaal said.

Close: Gyllenhaal starred with Ledger in the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain and both earned Oscar nominations for their performances

Close: Gyllenhaal starred with Ledger in the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain and both earned Oscar nominations for their performances

Tough to deal with: The Australian actor, pictured in November 2007, was found dead in a Manhattan apartment on January 22 2008. He was 28. Gyllenhaal said his co-star'\s death made him realize life is 'fleeting'

Tough to deal with: The Australian actor, pictured in November 2007, was found dead in a Manhattan apartment on January 22 2008. He was 28. Gyllenhaal said his co-star'\s death made him realize life is 'fleeting'

Ledger's sudden death made him realize that 'this is fleeting,' the Nightcrawler star said.

'None of the attention or synthesized love that comes from the success of a film really matters at all, he went on. 'What matters is the relationships you make when you make a film, and the people you learn from when you're preparing for a film. That changed a lot for me.'

People had earlier reported that Gyllenhaal had admitted during an interview with publication that he had a crush 'for years' Friends star Jennifer Aniston.

Opening up: Gyllenhaal revealed that he had a longtime crush on Jennifer Aniston and so when they got to work together on the 2002 film the Good Girl, it was 'lovely.' The pair are pictured in 2003

Opening up: Gyllenhaal revealed that he had a longtime crush on Jennifer Aniston and so when they got to work together on the 2002 film the Good Girl, it was 'lovely.' The pair are pictured in 2003

The two finally worked together on the 2002 film The Good Girl and that actor acknowledged it was 'lovely' to finally come face to face with his childhood crush.

He also acknowledged he was in a new and better place in his life right now.

'I am enjoying a much more interesting life and connecting to my sister and other friends has been an important change for me. It just feels that I'm on the right track again on so many levels,' he said.

Candid: The actor, who's 35, said he's 'on the right track' these days and has a 'much more interesting life.' He's pictured in New York City last month

Candid: The actor, who's 35, said he's 'on the right track' these days and has a 'much more interesting life.' He's pictured in New York City last month

 

 

 

 

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