Actor Jake Gyllenhaal has been left traumatized by the death of close pal Heath Ledger, according to a US report.A source on the set of the star’s new movie, Brothers, revealed he was somber and staring into space following news of Ledger’s tragic death.

Just weeks earlier Gyllenhaal jokingly took out a picture of his Brokeback Mountain beau to stick on the wall for a prison scene.

“Those prisoners put [loved ones] on the wall, but Jake’s was Heath Ledger,” the source told People magazine.

“That was hilarious. It was a nice moment. When you think back on it now, it’s touching.”

Gyllenhaal, 27, took a break from filming Brothers in New Mexico when he learned the news of Ledger’s January 22nd death.

The pair became close friends after they played a gay cowboy couple in 2005 movie Brokeback Mountain.

Gyllenhaal, who won a BAFTA for his role in the film, is even godfather to Ledger’s two-year-old daughter Matilda.

The Brothers source told People that Gyllenhaal left the set immediately after hearing about Ledger’s death - but briefly flew back on a commercial flight to shoot an additional scene on Thursday.

“This has had a strong personal effect on [Jake],” the set source said.

“He was there, but he wasn’t with us. It was obviously a major trauma.

“These guys were very close. [Jake] was sitting in the director’s chair staring off into space.”

Gyllenhaal was photographed on Saturday, looking subdued in Los Angeles with girlfriend Reese Witherspoon.

Set sources say Brothers director Jim Sheridan is shooting around the grieving actor during his personal leave.
“Jake is taking this harder than most people,” a friend of the actor added.

Ledger was found dead in his New York City apartment on the afternoon of January 22 this year.

Police found prescription medication in the bathroom but said there were “no obvious signs” of suicide.

An initial autopsy, performed on January 23, proved inconclusive.

Source: Showbiz Spy