Star Wars child actor who stepped away from Hollywood has spoken out about his health diagnosis
Child actor Jake Lloyd recently opened up about his schizophrenia diagnosis, and how it impacted his career in showbiz.
Seen as though George Lucas cast him in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace when he was just 8-years-old, it seemed the lad was destined for big things in Hollywood.
However, Jake stepped away from the spotlight just four years after his acting career began.
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Shortly after the Star Wars prequel was released in 1999, the youngster retired himself from the entertainment industry after starring in ER, Unhook the Stars, Jingle All the Way and Apollo 11.
Eight years later, Jake was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and he left college to live with his mother Lisa.
"When they finally told him, it totally threw him off into an even worse depression," his mum told Scripp News last year. "It was really hard."
A turbulent few years followed, with Jake landing himself in trouble with the law as he struggled to come to terms with his diagnosis.
As well as this, he was also suffering from a neurological condition called anosognosia, which causes people to be unaware of, or unconsciously in denial about, their medical condition.
"He didn't think he needed to take medication because he wasn’t sick," Lisa added. "He didn't think he needed to go to the therapist because there's nothing wrong with him."
Jake then suffered a 'full-blown psychotic break' in March 2023, which was compounded by the death of his sister Madison, 26, - who also appeared in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
She died of natural causes in her sleep in 2018.
Lisa explained that two years ago, Jake suddenly 'turned the car off in the middle of the three lanes' as they drove home, resulting in other road users alerting authorities.
That day, he was admitted to a hospital and a few months later he was transferred to a mental health rehabilitation facility to take part in an inpatient program.
Jake has since wrapped up his 18-month stay at the facility in Southern California, and told Variety in January this year that he is now feeling 'pretty good'.
He still receives care from a different treatment centre, however, he can come and go as he pleases.
"[I’m feeling] pretty good, considering these 20 years of time that have come to an end," Jake said. "I can now accept taking on continued treatment, and therapy, and my meds.
"Everyone’s been very supportive," the child actor said.
He explained that although he hit 'rock bottom' at one point, it was a crucial step that allowed him to 'honestly take part in treatment, honestly take his meds, and honestly live with his diagnosis'.
Discussing how his medication helps him manage his schizophrenia, he added: "I don’t have the time for feeling volatile. It is very much a cushion."
Lisa also previously explained that his mental health struggles were the reason he quit acting, rubbishing rumours that it was due to the the unfavourable response that the 1999 Star Wars film received upon it's release.
"It would have happened anyway," she told Scripp News of her son's schizophrenia. "I believe that it was genetic. And his psychiatrist also agrees that Jake was going to become schizophrenic."
The mum said that she had 'protected' Jake from the Star Wars 'backlash' when he was a child, adding: "He was just riding his bike outside, playing with his friends. He didn't know. He didn't care.
"Everybody makes such a big deal about that. And it's rather annoying to me because Jake was a little kid when that came out, and he didn't really feel all that stuff because I didn't let him online."
According to Lisa, her son still 'loves' the famous franchise, as she said last year: "People think Jake hates Star Wars. He loves it."
Hats off, Jake!
Topics: TV and Film, US News, Celebrity, Health, Mental Health, Star Wars
Olivia Burke