See the ‘Brokeback Mountain’ cast, then and now

Heath Ledger as Ennis Del Mar

Tragically, Heath Ledger passed away at the age of 28 on Jan. 22, 2008, just a little over two years after Brokeback Mountain premiered. His death was ruled an accidental overdose due to acute intoxication from a combination of prescription medications, including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleeping aids.

In the years leading up to his tragic death, Ledger delivered a string of memorable performances in films such as Lords of Dogtown (2005), Casanova (2005), The Brothers Grimm (2005), Candy (2006), and I’m Not There (2007).

Just months before his death, he completed work on what would become his most iconic role: The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008).

The film was released to critical and commercial acclaim, and Ledger’s chilling, transformative performance earned him numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe, among others.

His final film role was in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009). Since he died during production, his character, Tony Shepard, was reimagined to be portrayed by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell in different scenes, allowing the film to be completed in his honor.

In 2017, the documentary I Am Heath Ledger offered a look into his life and creative energy through interviews with family, friends, and colleagues. Michelle Williams — his Brokeback Mountain costar, former partner, and mother of their daughter, Matilda — did not appear in the film.

Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack Twist

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Oscar-nominated turn as Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain catapulted him to a new level of stardom, and he hasn’t looked back since. Firmly cemented as a Hollywood A-lister and go-to leading man, Gyllenhaal has built a career on bold choices and remarkable performances.

In the years that followed, Gyllenhaal has turned heads in everything from the chilling thriller Zodiac (2007) to gritty fare like Prisoners (2013), Nightcrawler (2014), and Nocturnal Animals (2016).

He also earned praise for his portrayal of a Boston Marathon bombing survivor in Stronger (2017), squared off against Spider-Man as Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and flexed his sizable muscles in the 2024 remake of Road House.

Gyllenhaal’s talents aren’t confined to the big screen, though, seeing how he’s also a Broadway favorite with three Tony nominations under his belt. His most recent stage role found him opposite Denzel Washington’s Othello as the scheming Iago in a 2025 production ofOthello.

The actor also recently made the leap to TV, headlining and executive producing Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent. His gripping performance as Rusty Sabich earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

Looking ahead, Gyllenhaal has a packed slate. He’ll star in The Bride!, written and directed by his sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, as well as the supernatural romance Remain, Guy Ritchie’s In the Grey, and a Road House sequel.

Behind the scenes, his production company, Nine Stories, is flourishing, having signed a first-look deal with Amazon MGM. As of June 2025, Gyllenhaal is producing and starring in Code Black, a film based on Harrison Query’s short story.

Anne Hathaway as Lureen Newsome Twist

While The Princess Diaries (2001) and its 2004 sequel may have introduced Anne Hathaway to the world, it was her performance as Lureen Newsome Twist solidifed her status as an actress on the rise.

Since then, Hathaway’s resume has been stacked with notable roles. She held her own opposite Meryl Streep in the fashion-world favorite The Devil Wears Prada (2006), traveled to space in Interstellar (2014), joined a glamorous con in Ocean’s 8 (2018), and fell in love in Amazon Prime Video’s buzzy rom-com The Idea of You (2024).

Hathaway’s 2012 was a career-defining year, with the actress suiting up as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises and delivering a gutting performance as Fantine in Les Misérables, earning her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

She’ll next star alongside Michaela Coel in Mother Mary, lead David Robert Mitchell’s Flowervale Street, reunite with Nolan for historical epic The Odyssey, and appear in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling Verity.

Michelle Williams as Alma Beers Del Mar

Michelle Williams played Alma Beers Del Mar, Ennis’ quietly heartbroken wife, a role that earned the actress her first Oscar nomination and marked the beginning of a powerhouse career.

Since then, Williams has become one of the most versatile and respected actresses working today, scoring Oscar nominations for her soulful turns in Blue Valentine (2010), My Week With Marilyn (2011), Manchester by the Sea (2016), and The Fabelmans (2022).

She’s taken on a wide range of other roles, from haunting Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island (2010) to playing the bubbly Glinda in Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) and singing and dancing in The Greatest Showman (2017). She also joined the Marvel universe in the first two Venom films (2018–2021).

Onstage, Williams made her mark in the 2014 Broadway revival of Cabaret and followed it up with Blackbird in 2016, the latter of which earned her a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Play.

In 2019, she wowed audiences with her Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning performance as Gwen Verdon on FX’s Fosse/Verdon, starring opposite Sam Rockwell as Bob Fosse.

More recently, she returned to television for Hulu’s Dying for Sex (2025), a dramedy inspired by the real-life story of Molly Kochan, a woman who, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, split from her husband and embarked on a sexual adventure.

Up next, Williams stars in the thriller A Place in Hell alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones, Danny Huston, and Andrew Scott.

Randy Quaid as Joe Aguirre

Randy Quaid played a key supporting role in Brokeback Mountain as rancher Joe Aguirre, the man who hires Ennis and Jack to herd sheep through the summer on the remote pastures of the titular location.

In March 2006, a few months after the film’s release, Quaid filed a lawsuit against Focus Features and the producers, alleging they had misrepresented the project as a „low-budget, art-house film with no prospect of making money“ in order to pay him a lower salary. He dropped the suit two months later, per Deadline.

Following Brokeback Mountain, Quaid portrayed the King of Spain in Goya’s Ghosts (2006) and earned praise for his performance in the Canadian indie film Real Time (2008), which won him a Vancouver Film Critics Circle award.

His next appearance was in the direct-to-video comedy Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach (2009), but legal issues and personal controversies largely sidelined his acting career for nearly a decade. He returned briefly in the 2018 indie All You Can Eat, but has not taken on any film or television roles since.

In recent years, Quaid has remained in the public eye primarily for his political views and vocal support of President Donald Trump.

Linda Cardellini as Cassie Cartwright

Audiences first fell in love with Linda Cardellini as Lindsay Weir on Freaks and Geeks (1999), Velma in the 2002 live-action Scooby-Doo, and as nurse Samantha Taggart on ER (2003–2009). Her performance as Cassie Cartwright in Brokeback Mountain was another major moment in a career full of them.

Over the past 15 years, Cardellini has kept her schedule packed with standout TV roles, including her Emmy-nominated performance on Dead to Me (2019–2022). She also played memorable roles on Mad Men (2013–2015) and Bloodline (2015–2017).

On the big screen, she’s appeared in hits like Daddy’s Home (2015), the Oscar-winning Green Book (2018), A Simple Favor (2018), and Netflix’s Nonnas (2025).

Cardellini also carved out a place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Laura Barton in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Hawkeye (2021). More recently, she broke hearts as the voice of otter Lylla in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).

Coming up, Cardellini will star in Peacock’s Crystal Lake, a prequel series to Friday the 13th.

Anna Faris as Lashawn Malone

Anna Faris may have shot to fame in the ridiculous Scary Movie franchise (2000–2026), but her brief turn as Lashawn Malone in Brokeback Mountain offered a glimpse of her dramatic range.

Following Brokeback Mountain, Faris starred in movies like The House Bunny (2008), What’s Your Number? (2011), Overboard (2018), and My Spy: The Eternal City (2024).

Her voice work is also notable, with the actress contributing to franchises such as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009–2013) and Alvin and the Chipmunks (2009–2015).

On the small screen, Faris charmed audiences for seven seasons as Christy Plunkett on hit CBS sitcom Mom (2013–2020).

Beyond acting, she’s found success as the host of the advice podcast Unqualified (2015–present), which also happens to be the name of her 2017 bestselling memoir.

Faris is set to return in Scary Movie 6, voice a role in Toy Story 5 (2026), and star in the live-action/animated hybrid I, Object.

David Harbour as Randall Malone

David Harbour’s role as Randall Malone in Brokeback Mountain may have been small, but it marked an early step in what’s turned out to be a stellar Hollywood career.

These days, Harbour is best known as Hawkins’ gruff-but-lovable police chief Jim Hopper on Stranger Things (2016–present), a role that’s earned him two Emmy nominations and worldwide recognition.

On the big screen, he’s taken on a wide range of roles, from the titular antihero in Hellboy (2019) and a not-so-jolly Santa Claus in Violent Night (2022) to a friendly ghost dad in We Have a Ghost (2023) and a former race car driver in Gran Turismo (2023).

Harbour is also a presence in both the Marvel and DC cinematic universes. He plays Red Guardian in the MCU, having appeared in Black Widow (2021) and Thunderbolts*(2025). Over in the DC world, he voices Eric Frankenstein in the animated series Creature Commandos (2024–present).

Next up, Harbour will reprise his role as Red Guardian on Marvel Zombies and in Avengers: Doomsday.

Kate Mara as Alma Del Mar Jr.

Since playing Alma Del Mar Jr., the daughter of Ledger and Williams’ characters in Brokeback Mountain, Kate Mara has continued to have a successful acting career.

She’s especially known for her TV work, appearing on series like 24 (2006), American Horror Story (2011), House of Cards (2013–2016), A Teacher (2020), and Black Mirror (2023).

Mara’s film credits span emotional dramas, thrillers, and sci-fi blockbusters. Some notable credits include We Are Marshall (2006), Fantastic Four (2015), The Martian (2015), My Days of Mercy (2017), Chappaquiddick (2018), and Friendship (2025).

Next, Mara will star in The Dutchman, The Astronaut, and Bucking Fastard, the latter of which will pair the actress with her real-life sister, Rooney Mara. She’s also returning to television with a lead role on the Apple TV+ drama Imperfect Women.