Star Wars’ Jake Lloyd Makes Rare Public Appearance — Fans Say He’s Unrecognizable
Star Wars fans were treated to a heartwarming surprise this week involving a former child star. Jake Lloyd, who famously played the young Anakin Skywalker, made a very rare appearance on social media. He was seen hanging out with fellow franchise alum Daniel Logan in a new photo.
The picture was posted on Sunday, January 18, by Logan on his Instagram account. In the shot, Logan is flashing a peace sign and smiling broadly while sitting next to Lloyd outside a restaurant. Logan captioned the bonding moment simply, writing, “Just spent the day with my brother.”
Lloyd is best known for playing the nine-year-old version of the future Darth Vader in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Logan portrayed the young Boba Fett in the 2002 sequel, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. The post even got some love from another prequel star, Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks and left a heart emoji in the comments.
This new sighting comes about a year after Lloyd gave a rare interview updating the public on his mental health. In January 2025, author Clayton Sandell published a conversation where Lloyd revealed he was doing “pretty good.” At that time, he had just finished an 18-month stay at a mental health facility in Southern California.
According to reports from early last year, Lloyd had moved to a new rehabilitation center following his inpatient stay. This new arrangement allowed him significantly more freedom in his daily life. Reports stated he was “basically free to come and go as he pleases,” marking a major step forward.
Lloyd’s mother, Lisa, has been very open about her son’s condition to help raise awareness and end the stigma. She explained that he struggles with anosognosia, a condition where a person’s brain cannot recognize that they are sick. Lisa previously told outlets that Jake began showing signs of schizophrenia when he was 19 years old.
The road to recovery was not easy and included some difficult run-ins with the law. In May 2023, the former actor was arrested after stopping his car in the middle of a busy three-lane road. Lisa described this terrifying event as a “psychotic break” during a candid interview with Scripps News.
Lloyd admitted in his 2025 interview that he needed to reach a low point to truly accept the help he needed. He told Sandell that hitting “rock bottom” was necessary to “honestly take part in treatment, honestly take your meds, and honestly live with your diagnosis.” His acceptance of his condition has been key to his recent stability.
While he generally avoids the fan convention circuit, Lloyd noted that meeting supporters is “immediately therapeutic” for him. He expressed gratitude for the continued support from the Star Wars community. He said, “I really do appreciate the time that’s been taken on us. I’m very appreciative.”
His mother also expressed her immense relief during the interview given a year ago. She stated that Lloyd is “actually getting so much better than he was.” She added, “It’s a big relief for me and the rest of his family. We’re all just thrilled that he’s doing as well as he is, and that he’s working really hard at it.”
Jake Lloyd retired from professional acting in 2001, shortly after his work on the Star Wars franchise. His role as Anakin Skywalker made him one of the most recognized children in the world at the turn of the millennium. The film The Phantom Menace told the story of two Jedi Knights discovering a young slave boy who they believed was the “Chosen One.”
The movie also starred heavyweights like Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn and Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Natalie Portman also starred as Queen Padmé Amidala, a role she would reprise throughout the prequel trilogy. While Lloyd stepped away from the spotlight, the character of Anakin Skywalker continued to be the central figure of the saga.
Before joining the galaxy far, far away, Lloyd starred in the classic Christmas comedy Jingle All the Way. In that 1996 film, he played the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The plot followed a father’s frantic attempt to find a sold-out Turbo Man action figure for his son before Christmas morning.
As for Daniel Logan, he has remained much more active in the Star Wars community over the years. He provided the voice for Boba Fett in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He frequently attends conventions and interacts with the fanbase that grew up watching the prequels.
The Star Wars universe continues to expand on Disney+ with various new series and movies. Recent projects have brought back many prequel-era actors, including Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor. This wave of nostalgia has led to a much warmer reception for the prequel films and their cast members in recent years.
We would love to hear your favorite memory of watching The Phantom Menace or Jingle All the Way, so please share your stories in the comments.