Jake Lloyd, who played young Anakin Skywalker in ‘Star Wars’, disappeared from public life and struggled with mental health for years; he has a reported net worth of $25,000

Jake Lloyd was one of the most recognizable child actors of the late 1990s. His portrayal of a young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace made him a celebrity overnight. But while the character would go on to become one of the franchise’s most consequential figures, Lloyd gradually stepped away from public life. Years later, his life took a different turn, marked by mental health struggles and a long period of treatment.

Now, the 37-year-old actor has made a rare public appearance. In an Instagram video shared by fellow Star Wars actor Daniel Logan, Lloyd thanked fans of the franchise, offering a brief glimpse of himself years after his acting career faded from the spotlight.

“We want to send a special message to each and every one of our Star Wars fans to let you know, ‘thank you so much,’” Logan, who played Boba Fett in 'Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones', said in the video. Standing beside Logan, Lloyd nodded before adding, “Very, very much so.”


The appearance comes after a difficult period in Lloyd’s life, including a psychotic episode in 2023 that led to hospitalization and an extended treatment program.

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From young Anakin Skywalker to life away from Hollywood

Lloyd started his career in television and film in 1996, playing Jimmy Sweet in the medical drama ER. That year, he also appeared as Mark Armstrong in the television film Apollo 11, which received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He subsequently appeared in four episodes of the action-drama series The Pretender. His film debut came in Unhook the Stars (1996), a drama starring Gena Rowlands and Gérard Depardieu. Lloyd played J.J., the young son of a single mother who befriends a widow. Lloyd rose to prominence in 1999 when he played the young Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace. The film introduced audiences to the boy who would eventually become Darth Vader, one of the central villains in the Star Wars saga. But

His career, however, did not follow the trajectory many might have expected after the global exposure of The Phantom Menace. He gradually withdrew from acting and largely disappeared from public view. Lloyd later returned to the Star Wars universe through appearances connected to the franchise. He voiced or portrayed a young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures in 2019 and appeared in Obi-Wan Kenobi in 2022.

Schizophrenia and psychotic break down

Lloyd’s withdrawal from public life was accompanied by serious mental health challenges. Lloyd was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2008. Her mother earlier revealed how he used to hear voices but had not told them about it. Lisa said learning about his condition initially worsened his depression. Over time, however, treatment and regularly taking his medication helped him improve.

In 2023, Lloyd had a psychotic break down while travelling with his mother. “He turned the car off in the middle of the three lanes, and we were in the middle lane,” Lisa told Scripps News. “There was a lot of yelling and screaming.”

The incident caused a traffic disruption, prompting bystanders to contact the police. When officers arrived, Lloyd spoke to them, but his mother said his words did not make sense. He was subsequently hospitalized and entered a rehabilitation program for an extended period.

Jake Lloyd’s reported net worth

Being in one of the biggest science-fiction franchises in film history, Lloyd's finances are a subject of public curiosity. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $25,000. The figure is a third-party estimate and ET has not been independently verified it.

For Lloyd, the recent Instagram appearance offered something more immediate than a career update: a chance to acknowledge the fans who still remember him as the young Anakin Skywalker.