Jake Lloyd, the former child actor who played Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, is feeling “pretty good” at the beginning of 2025.

Lloyd, 35, just ended an 18-month term at an inpatient mental health institution in Southern California, according to author Clayton Sandell on Wednesday, January 1. After receiving a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the actor is currently undergoing therapy at a rehabilitation clinic.

Lloyd’s mother, Lisa Lloyd, informed Sandell that her son suffered from anosognosia, a condition prevalent among people with schizophrenia. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is a syndrome “where your brain can’t recognize one or more other health conditions you have,” and persons with it are “much more likely to avoid or resist treatment for their other health conditions.”

When Sandell inquired how he was doing, Lloyd had positive news to give.

“I’m doing pretty good, considering these 20 years that have come to an end,” Lloyd said to me. “I can now tolerate continuous treatment, therapy, and medication,” Lloyd said. “Everyone has been extremely supportive.” Lisa later informed Sandell that it had not been 20 years since his diagnosis.

When George Lucas cast Lloyd as Anakin in The Phantom Menace when he was eight years old, his visage became ubiquitous in 1999. Lisa told Sandell last year in an interview with Scripps News that the poor reaction to the film had nothing to do with his choice to stop acting or his mental health deteriorating. She mentioned that his father’s family has a history of schizophrenia.

In 2015, while traveling by road from Florida to Canada, police detained Lloyd in South Carolina. After serving ten months in prison, Lisa informed TMZ about her son’s schizophrenia diagnosis. In May 2023, Lloyd experienced a total “psychotic break,” leading to his arrest for turning off his automobile in the middle of a three-lane road.

Lloyd explained to Sandell that he needed to reach his lowest point: “Honestly participate in treatment, honestly take your medications, and honestly live with your diagnosis.”

Lloyd is now a Star Wars aficionado, going through the franchise’s vintage video games. Although he does not attend fan conventions, he told Sandell that the interactions he has had with fans are “immediately therapeutic.”

Lloyd told me, “I really do appreciate the time you’ve taken on us.” “I’m very appreciative.”

Lloyd still has to brush up on Disney’s latest Star Wars developments. He informed Sandell he was “holding out” until May 4th to see as much as he could.

“Jake’s actually getting so much better than he was,” Lisa told Sandell. “It is a huge comfort to me and the rest of his family. We’re all pleased that he’s doing so well and working so hard. We appreciate it.