‘Star Wars’ Actor Jake Lloyd, 35, Shares Replace on His Schizophrenia Journey

Jake Lloyd, the previous little one actor who performed Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, feels “fairly good” at first of 2025.

Lloyd, now 35, lately accomplished an 18-month keep at an inpatient psychological well being facility in Southern California, writer Clayton Sandell reported on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The actor, who was identified with schizophrenia, is beginning the brand new yr dwelling at a rehabilitation middle the place he’s receiving therapy. 

Lloyd’s mom Lisa Lloyd advised Sandell her son struggled with anosognosia, which is widespread for these with schizophrenia. It’s a situation “the place your mind can’t acknowledge a number of different well being circumstances you’ve got,” per the Cleveland Clinic, which provides that folks with it are “more likely to keep away from or resist therapy for his or her different well being circumstances.” 

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When Sandell requested how he was doing, Lloyd had constructive information to share.

“Fairly good, contemplating these 20 years of time which have come to an finish,” Lloyd mentioned. “I can now settle for taking up continued therapy, and remedy, and my meds. Everybody’s been very supportive.” (Lisa later advised Sandell it hasn’t been 20 years since he was identified.)

Lloyd was 8 years previous when George Lucas forged him as Anakin in The Phantom Menace, which meant his face was in every single place in 1999. Lisa advised Sandell final yr in an interview revealed by Scripps Information that the adverse response to the film had nothing to do along with his choice to go away performing behind or his psychological well being decline. She famous that there was a historical past of schizophrenia in his father’s household.

In 2015, Lloyd was arrested in South Carolina throughout a highway journey from Florida to Canada. He spent 10 months in jail, which led to Lisa telling TMZ her son was identified with schizophrenia. In Might 2023, Lloyd had a whole “psychotic break” and was arrested after turning his automobile off in the midst of a three-lane highway. 

Hitting “all-time low” was essential to “truthfully participate in therapy, truthfully take your meds, and truthfully reside together with your prognosis,” Lloyd advised Sandell.

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At the moment, Lloyd is a Star Wars fan himself and is enjoying by the franchise’s traditional video video games. Though he isn’t showing at fan conventions, he advised Sandell that the experiences he has had with followers are “instantly therapeutic.” 

“I actually do respect the time that is been taken on us,” Lloyd mentioned. “I am very appreciative.”

Lloyd nonetheless has some catching as much as do in relation to Disney’s newest Star Wars tasks. He advised Sandell he was “holding out” for Might the Fourth to observe as a lot as he can.

“Jake’s truly getting so a lot better than he was,” Lisa additionally advised Sandell. “It’s a giant reduction for me and the remainder of his household. We’re all simply thrilled that he is doing in addition to he’s, and that he is working actually arduous at it. We respect that.”

Should you or somebody you understand wants psychological well being assist, textual content “STRENGTH” to the Disaster Textual content Line at 741-741 to be linked to an authorized disaster counselor.