Jake Lloyd, who became famous for playing the young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, spoke for the first time in years about his life after starring in the iconic film.
Jake, now 35, was only 8 when he starred in the 1999 film. He had previously starred in the 1996 film Jingle All The Way alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, but his fame faded over time.
“Other kids were really mean to me. They would make the lightsaber sound every time they saw me. It was total madness. My whole school life was really a nightmare,” he said to Blackbook in 2012.
“I learned to hate when cameras were pointed at me,” lamented the former actor, who also shared how he had to do “60 interviews a day.” As a result, he decided to leave the entertainment industry entirely, with his last film being Madison in 2001.
In June 2015, Jake was arrested in South Carolina for reckless driving, driving without a license, and resisting arrest. He was incarcerated until April 2016, before being transferred to a psychiatric unit.
Lisa, Jake’s mother, revealed last year that her son suffers from schizophrenia. He was diagnosed in 2008, but is now doing “much better” than she had expected. Now, Jake himself spoke for the first time in years about how his life has been.
“Considering these 20 years [since my diagnosis]… Now I can accept continuing treatment, therapy, and my medication. Everyone has supported me a lot,” he told writer Clayton Sandell in an interview for his blog on Substack.
He also said that the interactions he’s had with Star Wars fans at conventions are “therapeutic.” “It’s helpful for people and healthy. It’s not something I would run away from,” Jake added.
Photo and video: Creative Commons. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
