Although the American actor Peter Sarsgaard has no siblings, as he is the only child of his parents, he has a brother from a different mother—Jake Gyllenhaal.

He married Jake Gyllenhaal’s sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, in 2009, so Peter is Jake’s brother-in-law.

As they consider each other good friends, many people often wonder if they are actually siblings.

Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard attend a Cartier dinner in Venice, Italy [Sept 2, 2021] #CartierLovesCinema #Venezia78

(https://t.co/iZJTc2I50c) pic.twitter.com/IgAvdPd45r

— Jake Gyllenhaal (@JakeG_Online) September 3, 2021

Further, Peter Sarsgaard, who never had any biological siblings, expresses how his relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal fills a significant void. He said, “Jake and I have built a bond that feels very much like that of brothers.”

Their bond, which is built on mutual respect and shared experiences, is also visible in their recent collaboration on the television drama Presumed Innocent.

Presumed Innocent

IMDb

Crime Drama Mystery

It tells the story of a horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own is suspected of the crime.

Director	David E. Kelley
Release Date	June 12, 2024
Studio	Nine Stories Productions, Warner Bros. Television Studios
Cast	Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp
Writers	Jeff Loveness, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber
Runtime	–
Rating	TV-MA

Peter and Jake’s connection seamlessly enhances their professional collaboration

Peter Sarsgaard and Jake Gyllenhaal starred together in Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent, which premiered in June 2024. Their years of friendship and familial ties were pretty obvious on the set.

In an interview, Peter said, “When you know someone as well as I know Jake, it brings a different layer to your performances together.” He went on to say, “A level of trust and honesty enhances every scene.”

Meanwhile, Jake added, “Working with Peter is always a joy. Our bond definitely influences our on-screen dynamic. We push each other to be better, to be more honest in our performances.“

I’ve really enjoyed the first two episodes of PRESUMED INNOCENT. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers some of his best work as a prosecutor whose life is unraveling. An overall great cast — Ruth Negga, Renate Reinsve, Bill Camp, O-T Fagbenle and Peter Sarsgaard — that has me eager for more pic.twitter.com/qgL2UfpIji

— Ema Sasic (@ema_sasic) June 12, 2024

In the TODAY interview, Peter also jokingly recalled the time that they both shared a room during the shooting of Presumed Innocent.

He highlighted Jake’s precise organization habits, saying, “Jake is very well-organized, down to the yogurts in the fridge.“

Such a friendship as Peter’s with Jake stands out in a world where genuine connections can be rare. Even though Peter has no actual siblings, he views and appreciates Jake as a brother.

Their bond proves that family includes not only those who share blood but also those who live with us, with whom we share our lives and dreams.

Additional Information

• John Peter Sarsgaard, aka Peter Sarsgaard, 53, was born on March 7, 1971, to Judy Lea and John Dale Sarsgaard.
• He gained recognition for his roles in ‘The Man in the Iron Mask,’ ‘Boys Don’t Cry,’ and ‘The Center of the World.’
• Together with Maggie, Peter Sarsgaard has two daughters, Gloria Ray and Romano.
• Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal, aka Jake Gyllenhaal, 53, was born on December 19, 1980, to Naomi Foner and Stephen Gyllenhaal.