You don’t need to be an actor to think that being part of the *Star Wars* saga would be an experience of epic proportions. Regardless of how successful someone is in Hollywood and the world, getting cast to work in this franchise is like finding the coveted Holy Grail. Jake Lloyd was only 10 years old when he landed the role of the young Anakin Skywalker in *Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace* in 1999. Yet, despite the huge success of the film, his acting career was relatively shor-lived. Jake found himself the victim of bullying at school after receiving world-wide attention for his portrayal of Anakin. He has had many struggles along the way but he will always be the adorable Anakin to his fans.He had a couple of small roles in TV and film.
He starred opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way in 1996.
He found himself exhausted doing up to 60 interviews in one day.
“None of us really understood exactly how much Star Wars would affect us for the rest of our lives,” says Jake.
Jake lent his voice to many Star Wars video games as well.
Jake said kids would follow him making light sabre sounds.
It is reported the young actor destroyed all his Star Wars memorabilia.
“I’ve learned to hate it when the cameras are pointed at me,” explains Jake.
The film was the highest grossing Star Wars film until the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015.
Jake and Ewan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi, both appeared on episodes of the medical drama ER.
Jake retired early from acting.
He was in the movie Madison with Jim Caviezel.
Nonetheless, even after quitting acting he still struggled fitting in.
He worked at an outside mall in Indiana.
Jake still made appearances at sci-fi and comic book events signing fans’ autographs.
He was studying film and psychology but dropped out after one semester.
On June 17, 2015, Jake was arrested after a high speed chase for reckless driving, driving without a license, and resisting arrest.
Lisa revealed her son suffered from schizophrenia. She said her son had stopped taking his medication before the incident.
Lisa said that on March 2015, her son attacked her at home.
Jake was moved out of the prison into a mental facility for treatment. His mom says she can already see an improvement in her son’s behaviour.
