Jake Lloyd Talks Mental Health, Reconnects With Star Wars

star wars’ He returned to theaters in 1999 with Phantom threat introduced the audience to Jake Lloyd, who played the young Anakin Skywalker. While Hayden Christensen would play the character in subsequent appearances, Lloyd eventually faded from the public eye. It changed when last marchhe and his mother Lisa revealed that he had been in rehab for nearly a year after suffering a psychotic break and being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Since then, Lloyd has “agreed to take continued treatment, and therapy, and my meds,” he said in a recent post. interview with Clayton Sandell. After recently completing his 18-month rehab, the actor said he was able to come to terms with his diagnosis of schizophrenia. For years, Lloyd had anosognosia, a neurological condition that caused him to unknowingly deny his symptoms. Hitting such a low point has allowed “good things” to happen, he continued, like “honestly taking treatment, my meds, and living with my diagnosis.”

Before last year, the general assumption was the harsh criticism that Lloyd received later by Phantom release contributed to his breakup, similar to how the backlash against Jar Jar Binks was almost driven Ahmed Best to suicide. At the time, his mother denied those claims, and revealed that her son’s father had a history of schizophrenia. For her and the rest of her family, Lloyd’s improvement is a “great relief. He has become much better than him,” added Lisa Lloyd. “We’re all excited that he’s doing as well as he is, and that he’s working really hard.”

Overall, Lloyd says he’s feeling “pretty good” today, and said he’s very appreciative of the fan support he’s received over the past year. Public appearances are currently off the table, but it seems he still has affection Star Wars: told Sandell that he saw recently Ahsoka and put in the time Star Wars: The Old Republic and the original force released, and try to play the sequence. And although he hasn’t seen any of the recent movies, he said he’s “hanging out for May Fourth with my mom.”

Sandell’s full story with Jake Lloyd can be read here here.

Want more io9 news? Check when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Warsand Star Trek free, what is next for the DC Universe in film and TVand everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.