‘Star Wars' little one actor Jake Lloyd has schizophrenia, his mother reveals

Baby star Jake Lloyd had already appeared in a number of episodes of “ER” and shared the display  with Arnold Schwarzenegger within the film “Jingle All of the Means” earlier than he was forged as a younger Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” almost 25 years in the past. For the subsequent few years, he lent his voice to extra Star Wars initiatives earlier than disappearing from the general public eye following a schizophrenia analysis, his mom shared in a current interview. 

The previous actor’s mom, Lisa Lloyd, opened up about her son’s psychological well being struggles whereas chatting with Scripps Information, revealing that he’s at present 10 months into an 18-month keep at a psychological well being rehabilitation facility. In accordance with the outlet, Jake Lloyd is “conscious” that his mom is discussing his well being points. 

Lisa Lloyd mentioned she first observed her son was “having some troubles” when he was in highschool. 

“He began speaking about ‘realities.’ He didn’t know if he was on this actuality, or a unique actuality. I didn’t actually know precisely what to say to that,” she recalled. 

She took him to a physician who thought her son may have bipolar dysfunction and Jake Lloyd was prescribed totally different medicines. When he left residence to attend Columbia School Chicago, he struggled. 

Lisa Lloyd remembered her son saying he noticed “black eyes” taking a look at him on the road and had conversations with Jon Stewart whereas watching “The Each day Present.” 

“He didn’t inform us he was listening to voices on the time. However he was,” Lisa Lloyd mentioned.

In 2008, he left faculty and moved in along with his mother in Indiana. There, he was identified with paranoid schizophrenia, which is now known as schizophrenia. He has a historical past of schizophrenia on his father’s facet, Lisa Lloyd later revealed within the interview.  

The psychological sickness can change how an individual thinks, feels and behaves, in line with the Nationwide Institute of Psychological Well being. Some identified with schizophrenia “could look like they’ve misplaced contact with actuality,” the institute mentioned. 

Jake Lloyd additionally battles anosognosia, a situation the place an individual can’t acknowledge their sickness and the necessity for medicine, in line with Cleveland Clinic.  

“He didn’t suppose he wanted to take medicine as a result of he wasn’t sick,” Lisa Lloyd defined. “He didn’t suppose he wanted to go to the therapist as a result of there’s nothing improper with him.”

Seven years later, he was arrested after main police on a chase and crashing his automobile. He spent 10 months in jail. 

In March 2023, the 2 had been driving when Jake Lloyd instructed her he needed to cease the automobile. 

“And he turned the automobile off in the course of the three lanes, and we had been within the center lane,” she mentioned. “The police received there, and so they requested Jake some questions. He was speaking to them, however none of it made sense. It was all phrase salad.”

He was initially taken to the hospital earlier than coming into an inpatient program at a psychological well being rehabilitation facility. His mother mentioned he’s nonetheless receiving remedy and has accomplished 10 months of his 18-month keep. 

She mentioned he has made enhancements. 

She shared, “He’s doing a lot better than I anticipated.”

Jake Lloyd’s mother added, “He’s referring to individuals higher and turning into a bit bit extra social, which is very nice. It’s form of like having extra of the previous Jake again, as a result of he has all the time been extremely social till he grew to become schizophrenic.”

She mentioned they not too long ago went to the movie show to see “Wonka.” 

Lisa Lloyd additionally shared that her son remains to be a “Star Wars” fan and watched the “Ahsoka” collection, which was launched in August 2023. 

Jake Lloyd’s mother mentioned she “would love” for her son to probably take part in a “Star Wars” mission sooner or later. 

“Jake liked filming ‘Star Wars.’ He had a lot enjoyable,” she mentioned.

She continued, “I might love for him to get nicely sufficient to have the ability to do some little bit of one thing, and I’m certain he would possibly like to do this. He couldn’t at this level, however you by no means know the way a lot he’s going to enhance. So we’ll see.”

In accordance with IMDb, Jake Lloyd’s final appearing credit score was voicing Younger Anakin Skywalker within the “Star Wars: Racer Revenge” online game in 2002. 

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