10 Wholesome Behind-The-Scenes Star Wars Moments
2. Jake Lloyd Is Doing Better And Remains A Big Star Wars Fan
Following his performance as a young Anakin Skywalker in Episode I - The Phantom Menace, child actor Jake Lloyd was also sadly criticised and targeted by both audiences and critics.
Contrary to popular belief, though, said reactions weren't the reason Lloyd largely disappeared from the screen in the years after that Star Wars debut, and they also didn't contribute to the star's eventual struggles with mental illness.
According to Lloyd's mother, Lisa, Jake was always going to eventually become schizophrenic - he was ultimately diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia - due to a history of schizophrenia on his biological father’s side of the family (via ScrippsNews). His psychiatrist also felt that Lloyd was always going to deal with this mental illness.
Along with this, Lisa noted how she protected him from much of the Star Wars negativity, outside of a bit of bullying at school, and his reasons for walking away from acting were more to do with family. The family were going through a divorce, and Lisa explained that “things were unsettled and kind of rough. And Jake didn't seem to be having a lot of fun auditioning anymore.”
You'll be pleased to hear that things are now looking up for the actor, though, after a 10-month stint in prison following a high-speed car chase in 2015, the sudden death of his sister in 2018, suffering what his mother described as a "full-blown psychotic break" in 2023, and recently finishing an 18-month stay at an inpatient mental health facility in Southern California (via Efforting with Clayton Standell).
Lloyd is living at a new rehabilitation center and receiving treatment there, and is said to still be a huge fan of Star Wars, playing the video games, watching the Ahsoka series, and getting excited about the idea of spending May the 4th with his mom.
Jake also still has fond memories of his interactions with fans, and mentioned this year that “the experience I've had with the fans is immediately therapeutic. Right now, it's still therapeutic. It's helpful for people and healthy. It isn't something I'd shy away from.”
Just hearing that Lloyd is in a better place after a rough time there brings warms feelings to our hearts, so keep sending him all the love, folks.