How Jake Gyllenhaal Got His Body in UFC Shape for ‘Road House’
The Amazon MGM Studios remake of Road House premieres on Prime Video this week, so viewers will get to see firsthand the grueling efforts Jake Gyllenhaal went through to chisel himself into the film’s lead character Dalton, originally portrayed by Patrick Swayze.
When the 43-year-old, six-foot-tall actor made an appearance at UFC 285 in Las Vegas last March to film a scene for the movie, he weighed in at 184 pounds with an impressive 5 percent body fat, his longtime trainer Jason Walsh revealed in a new Men’s Health profile. And while he does indeed appear absolutely shredded in the film, Gyllenhaal also explained why fitness is an important part of preparing for any role—not just one that requires him to be shirtless for much of the film.
“No matter what was going on in my day, no matter what was happening in my life, exercise always helped me get through in one way or another,” he explained to the publication. “I’m always trying to find roles that allow me to stay physical. That means caring for not only doing my research and working hard intellectually but also taking care of the physical part of acting.”
Walsh said he worked with Gyllenhaal for eight months ahead of filming the movie, and continued training him during the three-month filming period.
“Jake is probably at the top, as far as someone who already has a great foundation,” Walsh explained. However, he made sure to clarify that Gyllenhaal wasn’t in peak physical shape during the training period and film shoot. and that “people don’t see the valleys.” He also noted that spray tan and lighting can be beneficial when creating an onscreen physique.
To mold Gyllenhaal into a former UFC fighter, Walsh says they employed a “progressive strength-training program split into phases.” And because the actor is a huge fan of cardio who runs six-minute miles, he had to force him to dial back his daily runs to just a mile at a time.
But working out was only one component of Gyllenhaal’s fitness plan, as his diet was equally as important. By partnering with registered dietitian Ornella Sofitchouk, a member of Walsh’s team, they were tasked with figuring out just the right balance between high-protein meals and the actor’s “favorite indulgences.” And after Gyllenhaal developed digestive issues with standard whey protein, the team came up with a “bespoke plant-based protein-powder mix.”
“I love to cook—I believe it is a centerpiece in my life, the time around a table with my family and friends,” Gyllenhaal said.
As demanding as the fitness and diet plan was for Gyllenhaal, he is also acutely aware of his fleeting ability to get himself into this kind of shape. “I’m at an age where you get older and you go, ‘How long do you have these things and the ability to do these things?’” he added. “You start to have gratitude in a different way.”
