Former child actor Jake Lloyd, who played the young Anakin Skywalker in 1999 “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Threat,” shared a positive mental health update after being diagnosed with schizophrenia.
During the day an interview with “Star Wars: Timelines” co-writer Clayton Sandell, Lloyd, now 35, and his mother Lisa Lloyd discussed his progress after he recently completed an 18-month stay at an inpatient psychiatric facility in Southern California.
While previously speaking to Sandell for an article in Scripps News, Lisa shared that Lloyd entered treatment after experiencing a “complete psychotic breakdown,” which saw him ditch his car on a three-lane highway in March 2023.
According to Sandell, Lloyd is currently living in a new rehabilitation center where he continues to receive treatment but has the freedom to come and go as he pleases. During their conversation, Lloyd told Sandell he was feeling “pretty good.”
Former ‘Star Wars’ child actor Jake Lloyd shared an update on his mental health amid his schizophrenia diagnosis. (PA images via Getty Images)
“I can now accept that I will continue the treatment, therapy and my medications,” he said. “Everyone has been very supportive.”
‘STAR WARS’ CHILD ACTOR IN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY AFTER ‘Complete PSYCHOTIC BREAK’
In addition to schizophrenia, Lisa previously told Sandell that Lloyd also has a neurological condition known as anosognosia, which according to the National Institute of Health, “is a neurological condition in which the patient is unaware of their neurological deficit or psychiatric condition.”
Lisa said Lloyd’s condition prevented him from taking medication because he didn’t believe he was sick.
While speaking to Sanell, Lloyd described his medication as “a pillow.”
“I don’t have time to feel flighty,” he said.
Lloyd played the young Anakin Skywalker in ‘The Phantom Menace’. (CHRIS PIZSELLO/AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The former actor went on to say that “good things” have come from the time he spent in treatment.
Lloyd told Sandell that he believed hitting rock bottom was necessary to “participate in treatment honestly, take your medications honestly, and live honestly with your diagnosis.”
Lisa previously shared that LLoyd had struggled with his mental health since high school. She told Sandell she was optimistic about the progress he had made since receiving his diagnosis and beginning treatment.
“Jake is actually becoming so much better than he was,” she said. “It’s a big relief for me and the rest of his family. We’re all very happy that he’s doing as well as he is, and that he’s working very hard at it. We appreciate that.”
Lloyd rose to worldwide fame at the age of 8 when George Lucas cast him as Anakin in “The Phantom Menace.” Before appearing in the movie “Star Wars”, Jake made his acting debut Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1996 holiday film, “Jingle All the Way.”
Before retiring from acting in 2001, Lloyd’s last on-screen role was in the sports drama “Madison,” in which he starred opposite Jim Caviezel.
Lloyd and his mother Lisa shared their optimism about his progress. (Getty Images)
During her interview for Scripps News, Lisa clarified that Lloyd starring in “The Phantom Menace” as a child did not push him to walk away from acting or contribute to his mental health issues.
“It would have happened anyway,” said Lisa, who said there was a history of schizophrenia on his father’s side of the family.
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She added: “I believe it was genetic. And his psychiatrist also agrees that Jake would become schizophrenic.”
Lisa also noticed this when the movie “Star Wars” came out received a backlash after its release in 1999, she shielded any negativity from her son.
‘I protected him from the reactions. He just rode his bike outside and played with his friends. He didn’t know. He didn’t care,” she said. “Everyone makes such a big deal about it. And it’s kind of annoying for me because Jake was a little kid when that came out, and he didn’t really feel any of those things because I didn’t let him online.”
Lloyd was 8 when George Lucas cast him as Anakin Skywalker. (David Paul Morris/Getty Images)
Lloyd told Sandell that he is a fan of the “Star Wars” franchise and fondly remembers his time making “The Phantom Menace.”
He said he recently played the classic “Star Wars” video games “Star Wars: The Old Republic” and “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.”
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“I want to play The Force Unleashed II,” he tells me. ‘I just beat the first one.
Lloyd said he hasn’t watched any Star Wars movies or TV shows lately, but added that he plans to catch up on a special day celebrated by fans of the franchise around the world.
‘I’m waiting May the Fourth with my mother,” he said.
Lloyd said his experiences with fans are “instantly therapeutic.” (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Although Lloyd no longer attends “Star Wars” conventions, he said his experiences with fans are “instantly therapeutic.”
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“At this point it is still therapeutic,” he added. “It’s useful for people and healthy. It’s not something I shy away from.”
Lloyd also expressed his gratitude for the continued support from fans during his health problems.
“I really appreciate the time put into us,” he said. “I am very grateful.”
Janelle Ash of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
