Every year May the 4th brings about renewed interest in not only the Star Wars films themselves, but the iconic faces and names behind the beloved movies.
Oftentimes however the names that draw the most interest aren’t necessarily those that went on to become household celebrity names, but those who exited the spotlight altogether.
This is true of Jake Lloyd, the actor who played the child version of Anakin in the first Star Wars prequel The Phantom Menace.
Lloyd was just eight years old when he began filming the prequel, and has since quit acting after only appearing in one minor TV series after The Phantom Menace and a few Star Wars video games.
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The actor and his family have been outspoken however about his mental health struggles in the years since. This includes his struggles with Schizophrenia which culminated in a psychotic break. His Schizophrenia however was made even harder by a little-known disorder called anosognosia.
What is anosognosia and how did it effect Jake Lloyd?
Anosognosia is actually not that rare, but the disorder is one linked to other conditions.
It prevents people from being able to recognise other health conditions you may suffer from and the mental and physical effects it can have on you.
This is commonly referred to as ‘denial of deficit’ and effects between 50 and 98% of people with schizophrenia.
Caused by brain damage it can prevent people from feeling they need to take medication for their condition, something that Jake’s mother Lisa described seeing in the child star.
Speaking to Scripp News with the permission of her son, Lisa said: “He didn't think he needed to take medication because he wasn't sick.
"He didn't think he needed to go to the therapist because there's nothing wrong with him."
What did Jake’s Mum saying about him having a psychotic break?
Jake’s schizophrenia has led to several issues in this past, including a 2015 arrest following a police car chase that saw him spend ten months in jail. Lisa claims that she was not allowed to get him his medication and he wasn’t allowed to be moved to a hospital bed.
In 2023 he suffered what she described as a ‘full-blown psychotic break’, stating that police showed up after he began screaming and yelling in her car on the way back from McDonalds.
He was admitted to hospital and spent time on an inpatient program at a mental health rehabilitation facility.
In 2025 he gave an update in the form of an interview with Clayton Sandell, where he said he was feeling ‘pretty good’, adding: “I can now accept taking on continued treatment, and therapy, and my meds.
“Everyone's been very supportive.”
Topics: Star Wars, Mental Health, TV and Film, TV, Celebrity
Michael Slavin