Former little one actor Jake Lloyd, who performed younger Anakin Skywalker in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I. – The Phantom Menace,” shared a constructive psychological well being replace after it was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Throughout the an interview with Star Wars: A Timeline co-writer Clayton Sandel, Lloyd, now 35, and his mom, Lisa Lloyd, mentioned his progress after he lately accomplished an 18-month stint at an inpatient psychological well being facility in Southern California.
Whereas talking with Sandel earlier for a Scripps Information article, Lisa shared that Lloyd entered therapy after experiencing a “full psychotic break” throughout which he turned off his automobile on a three-lane highway in March 2023.
In line with Sandel, Lloyd is presently dwelling in a brand new rehabilitation heart the place he continues to obtain therapy however is free to come back and go as he pleases. Throughout their dialog, Lloyd instructed Sandel that he was feeling “fairly good.”
“I can now settle for to proceed my therapy, remedy and drugs,” he stated. “Everybody could be very supportive.”
Along with schizophrenia, Lisa beforehand instructed Sandel that Lloyd additionally has a neurological situation often called anosognosia, which in response to the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, “is a neurological situation by which the affected person is unaware of their neurological deficit or psychiatric situation.”
Lisa stated Lloyd’s situation stopped him from eager to take treatment as a result of he did not imagine he was sick.
Whereas talking with Sanel, Lloyd described his treatment as “just about a cushion.”
“I haven’t got time to really feel fickle,” he stated.
The previous actor additionally stated that “good issues” have come from his time in therapy.
Lloyd instructed Sandel that he believes attending to “all-time low” is critical to “truthfully interact in therapy, truthfully take your treatment, and truthfully dwell along with your analysis.”
Lisa beforehand shared that LLoyd has struggled together with his psychological well being since he was in highschool. She instructed Sandel she is optimistic in regards to the progress he has made since his analysis and therapy.
“Jake is definitely getting loads higher than he was,” she stated. “This can be a nice aid 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 exhausting at it. We respect that.”
Lloyd gained worldwide fame on the age of 8 when George Lucas forged him as Anakin in The Phantom Menace.
Earlier than showing in Star Wars, Jake made his appearing debut alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger within the 1996 vacation movie. “Jingle All of the Method”.
earlier than retiring from acting in 2001, Lloyd’s final display position was within the sports activities drama Madison, by which he co-starred with Jim Caviezel.
Throughout her interview with Scripps Information, Lisa clarified that Lloyd’s involvement in “The Phantom Menace” as a toddler didn’t trigger him to surrender appearing or contribute to his psychological well being points.
“It was going to occur anyway,” Lisa stated, sharing that there’s a historical past of schizophrenia on his father’s aspect of the household.
She added: “I imagine it is genetic. And his psychiatrist additionally agrees that Jake was about to turn into schizophrenic.
Lisa additionally famous that when the Star Wars film obtained backlash after its launch in 1999, she shielded any negativity from her son.
“I protected him from the backlash. He was simply using his bike outdoors and taking part in together with his associates. He did not know. He did not care,” she stated. “All people makes such an enormous deal about it. And it is type of annoying to me as a result of Jake was a little bit child when that got here out and he did not actually really feel all that stuff as a result of I did not put it on-line.
Lloyd instructed Sandel that he’s a fan of the Star Wars franchise and fondly remembers his time making The Phantom Menace.
He stated he lately performed the traditional Star Wars video video games Star Wars: The Outdated Republic and Star Wars: The Pressure Unleashed.
“I need to play The Pressure Unleashed II,” he tells me. “I simply beat the primary one.
Lloyd stated he hasn’t watched any Star Wars films or TV reveals lately, however added that he plans to make amends for a big day celebrated by followers of the franchise around the globe.
“I am trying ahead to Might 4th with my mother,” he stated.
Though Lloyd not attends Star Wars conventions, he stated his experiences with followers are “immediately therapeutic.”
“It is nonetheless therapeutic proper now,” he added. “It is good for folks and wholesome. It is not one thing I’d be ashamed of.”
Lloyd additionally expressed his gratitude for the continued help of followers amid his well being points.
“I actually respect the time we got,” he stated. “I’m very grateful.”
Fox Information Digital’s Janelle Ash contributed to this report.
