Jake Gyllenhaal traumatised by Heath Ledger's death

Brokeback Mountain star is still in shock

Wednesday, 30 January 2008

Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger became close while shooting Brokeback Mountain and Heath's death has been a terrible shock to his co-star.

Jake is godfather to Heath's two-year-old daughter Matilda and was devastated by last week's news.

'He is taking this harder than most people,' says a pal.

Currently shooting Brothers in New Mexico, Jake left the set on 22 January immediately after he heard that Heath had been found dead.

When he returned, he wasn't his usual self.

'He was there, but he wasn't with us,' a source tells People.com. 'It was obviously a major trauma. These guys were very close. [Jake] was sitting in the director's chair staring off into space.'

Jake, 27, has now been given time off to mourn and has been spotted with girlfriend Reese Witherspoon in Los Angeles.

Director Jim Sheridan is shooting other scenes while he waits for the actor to return from compassionate leave.

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