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"I only am in this business because I enjoy it. I think that is the only way to be in the business." Those are wise words, as too many people get into the film business to make money, even though they may not really enjoy the work they're doing. But for Jake Lloyd, the value wasn't in the money but was in the acting and the business itself. Lloyd is most known for the role of Anakin Skywalker, and has retired from acting, citing mental health issues. He was also credited or known in some roles as Jake Broadbent, and his portrayal of Anakin in 1999 has also been reprised by Lloyd in a series of Star Wars video games.

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But how did Lloyd get from his humble upbringings into one of the most famous franchises in the galaxy? And what happened that he chose to retire from acting rather than pursue more roles with his obvious level of stardom? There were several factors at play in Lloyd's decisions. Read on to find out what happened, how he got his start, and why he decided that continuing to pursue an acting career might not be in his best interests. While there's a lot known about the actor, there's always more to learn about everything he brought to the role of Anakin and why he retired from the film industry.

Starting Out in Colorado and Taking Small Roles

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Lloyd was born in Fort Collins, Colorado. His mother was an entertainment agent and his father worked as an EMT. The family moved to Indiana where Lloyd attended Carmel High School in the town of Carmel. He graduated in 2007. His acting career started well before high school graduation, though, as he was in four episodes of the hit TV series ER in 1996. He was also in Jingle All the Way, Apollo 11, and Unhook the Stars. Then he really got his big break, when George Lucas chose him to play young Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace.

"None of us really understood exactly how much Star Wars would affect us for the rest of our lives," Lloyd has said about his time playing such an important character in the wildly popular series. The film was a major success at the box office, was appreciated by many critics, and meant Lloyd won awards for his role, as well. There were some critics who didn't agree with the masses, and who panned and criticized Lloyd's performance in the film. Lloyd was in Madison and Die with Me in 2000, after which he announced his retirement from acting in 2001.

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Getting Older is Required, but Growing Up was Optional

"I've aged, but grown up? No." Lloyd liked to have fun, and he regularly still appeared at conventions and festivals even after he had retired. He planned to direct a documentary about Tibetan refugees in 2012, and he was commissioned that same year to create a song promo for singer Mallory Low. Lloyd moved away from Hollywood and settled in Chicago. He dropped out of Columbia College Chicago after his first semester, where he had been studying psychology and film. Unfortunately, that was one of the major indications that Lloyd might have been experiencing personal struggles unrelated to his acting or career aspirations.

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During an interview in 2012, Lloyd said that he retired from acting in 2001 because he was being bullied at his school. He also decided to get rid of all the Star Wars memorabilia he owned. It appeared that he wanted to distance himself from the film as much as possible, and what should have been joyous might have been a source of stress and strain for him, instead. He ended up in some minor legal trouble in South Carolina involving driving a car without a valid license, and spent some time in jail. He was then transferred to a mental health facility, where it was found that he was suffering from schizophrenia.

His sister Madison, who had also played a small role in The Phantom Menace passed away at 26 from natural causes in 2018, and Lloyd continues to be treated for his mental health condition. He may return to acting at some point in the future, although whether or not that would be the case is only speculation at this point. If he does return to acting it will certainly be after getting proper help and support for any mental health conditions he may still be working with. Schizophrenia is treatable, and Lloyd can have a good future ahead of him, whether he chooses to return to acting or prefers to remain out of the spotlight.