Owen Cooper Meets Jake Gyllenhaal Before 2025 Emmys Ceremony

Los Angeles, CA — In a touching moment that unfolded ahead of the 2025 Emmys, 15-year-old actor Owen Cooper met his idol Jake Gyllenhaal during a surprise visit. This heartwarming encounter took place as Cooper was participating in an interview about his nomination for the limited series ‘Adolescence‘.

Cooper, who made waves in the industry with his historical role, couldn’t hide his excitement as Gyllenhaal entered the room with a gift. Just days prior, during an interview, Cooper expressed his excitement about meeting the star of ‘Brokeback Mountain‘, stating, “I want to get there, do all the media, and then just chew Jake Gyllenhaal’s ear off all night.”

In a video clip leading up to the meeting, Cooper called Gyllenhaal his “favorite actor of all time,” expressing a strong desire to collaborate with him. When Gyllenhaal arrived, he admitted, “Now I feel nervous. I’m excited.” Upon entering, Gyllenhaal caught Cooper off guard, who had been discussing his admiration for him with the interviewer.

“I don’t know. I’ll just stare at him,” Cooper said regarding how he would react to meeting Gyllenhaal. The moment became real as Cooper turned to see Gyllenhaal standing there, leaving him momentarily speechless.

After sharing a friendly hug, Gyllenhaal presented Cooper with a small token. “I made this movie and got nominated for an Academy Award, and a friend of mine sent me something like this before. It’s just a ‘Lucky Duck’ to keep in your pocket for a little bit of luck,” he explained.

Gyllenhaal, who joked about Cooper’s enthusiasm, said, “I just came by because he’s just been talking about me too much.” The two took pictures together, and Cooper expressed his gratitude for the unexpected encounter.

Cooper was nominated for his role alongside other talented actors such as Javier Bardem and Rob Delaney. The 2025 Emmy Awards will air on CBS and Paramount+ with Showtime at 5 p.m. PT on September 14.