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Jake Lloyd, who played a young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, has recently opened up about his struggles with schizophrenia and his ongoing journey to recovery.
The former child actor recently completed an 18-month stint at a Southern California inpatient mental health facility and shared that he is feeling “pretty good”.
In an interview with journalist Clayton Sandell, Jake shared: “[I'm feeling] pretty good, considering these 20 years of time that have come to an end.”
“I can now accept taking on continued treatment, and therapy, and my meds. Everyone’s been very supportive.”
Jake, 35, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2008, and went on to suffer a psychotic break in March 2023 that led to his most recent treatment.
Jake’s mother Lisa has been a firm supporter of her son throughout his mental health struggles, and dispelled rumours that the negative reception of The Phantom Menace was what led to his departure from acting.
Instead, she pointed to his schizophrenia diagnosis and genetic predisposition as the primary causes.
She went on to add: “I protected him from the [‘The Phantom Menace’] backlash.
“He was just riding his bike outside, playing with his friends. He didn’t know. He didn’t care.
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“Everybody makes such a big deal about that. And it’s rather annoying to me because Jake was a little kid when that came out, and he didn’t really feel all that stuff because I didn’t let him online.”
Lisa also looked back on a frightening incident during Jake’s psychotic break in March 2023 that led to him finally being hospitalised.
She shared: “He said he wanted to turn the car off. And he turned the car off in the middle of the three lanes, and we were in the middle lane.”
The chaos led to other drivers calling 911. Fortunately, instead of being jailed, Jake was taken to a hospital and later moved to a mental health rehabilitation facility.
Now Jake is receiving care from a treatment centre where he can come and go as he pleases, and he says he thinks he had to reach “rock bottom” before he was willing to face getting treatment.
He has shared that his medication has had a stabilising effect on him, adding: “I don’t have the time for feeling volatile. It is very much a cushion.”
Throughout his recovery, Jake has found solace in the unwavering support of his fans.
“The experience I’ve had with the fans is immediately therapeutic. Right now, it’s still therapeutic,” he said.
“It’s helpful for people and healthy. It isn’t something I’d shy away from. I really do appreciate the time that’s been taken on us. I’m very appreciative.”
