Jake Lloyd, young Anakin from Star Wars, gives rare interview after overcoming schizophrenia and psychotic break By Carolina Costa
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Actor Jake Lloyd, who gained notoriety as a child when he played the character Anakin Skywalker in the film “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999), was diagnosed with schizophrenia years after his debut. He then opted for a life away from the stage to focus on his treatment, only reappearing publicly after facing a psychotic break.
However, the former star gave an exclusive interview to renowned “Star Wars” expert Clayton Sandell, which was recently released. In May, during Star Wars Day celebrations, Sandell published a video detailing the completion of Lloyd’s treatment, showing excerpts from a video chat with the actor.
Clayton Sandell mentioned at the beginning of the recording Lloyd’s enthusiasm for moving forward with his life, including his aspiration to build a career in the world of E-Sports. The specialist also characterized the former child actor as a “great player” and highlighted that he was “fantastic” in his recovery.
Jake Lloyd himself also participated in the conversation, saying he had “his head in the right place about things.” He expressed confidence in the treatment’s results, highlighting that “they have assured me that I will come out of treatment with a few weapons in my arsenal”, and likened the recovery process to a “copy and paste strategy”, describing it as “brilliant”. Lloyd revealed that he was able to assimilate therapy, treatment and socialization in a “healthy and constructive” way.
Playing young Anakin Skywalker represented a dream come true for Jake Lloyd, but, paradoxically, early fame ended up becoming a negative turning point in his career. The actor’s performance was one of the most debated points of the film, which received mixed reviews. Furthermore, Lloyd’s school life was marked by harassment, with classmates taunting him with lightsaber sounds, something he described as “complete madness” in a 2012 interview. This context underlines the challenges faced by many child actors, where public exposure and criticism can severely impact personal development and mental health.
After moving away from Hollywood, Jake dedicated himself to film and video studies at Columbia College in Chicago and lived discreetly until 2015. That year, however, the police were called by his mother, Lisa Lloyd. She informed authorities that the former artist had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and that stopping his medication had precipitated an outbreak.
In a separate part of the newly released interview, Sandell asked Lloyd about his aspirations in the world of E-Sports. “It felt most relevant considering my past and seeing a possible future. I’m genuinely excited about that possibility,” Jake explained. He also shared that he was among the “top 500” players of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” at the game’s launch.
Lloyd added that, although the treatment prevents him from playing at the desired intensity, he is currently among the “top four in eliminations” in “Call of Duty” and uses this feat in his portfolio. He also mentioned that he has fun with some games from the Star Wars franchise, however, he doesn’t have time to watch the films or series.
Addressing the admirers who “supported” him throughout this period, Lloyd made a point of expressing: “I would love to say thank you to everyone who managed to support me.” In conclusion, he established that his next five years will be dedicated entirely to “medicine, therapy and not bothering anyone.”
