Jake Gyllenhaal Devastated by Heath Ledger's Death

Jake Gyllenhaal Devastated by Heath Ledger's Death

A source close to the actor revealed he's taking the loss of his Brokeback Mountain co-star "harder than most"

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is struggling with the death of Heath Ledger, his colleague from the movie Brokeback Mountain. Gyllenhaal, who had a brotherly relationship with Ledger, is the godfather of Matilda, the 2-year-old daughter of Michelle Williams and the late actor.

"This has had a strong personal effect on [Jake]," a source close to the actor told People.com. "[He] is taking this harder than most people."

Entertainment program The Insider (CBS) added that the 27-year-old actor immediately left the set of Brothers, the film he was working on in New Mexico when he heard the news of his friend's death. "He was there, but he wasn't with us. It was obviously a major trauma," says a source from the movie set. "These guys were very close. [Jake] was sitting in the director's chair staring off into space."

The actor was recently seen with his girlfriend Reese Witherspoon in Los Angeles. With Gyllenhaal gone on personal leave, Brothers director Jim Sheridan is shooting as many scenes as he can without the actor.