Daveigh Chase, the former child star who terrified audiences as the ghostly Samara in ‘The Ring’ and voiced the beloved Lilo in Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ has died at the age of 35.
Chase passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at a hospital in Los Angeles due to complications from meningitis and a blood infection, according to her father, John David Schwallier.
A life marked by struggle
Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, told TMZ that Chase had been hospitalized since early June to be treated for malnutrition.
Schwallier told The New York Times that his daughter had been homeless and living with her boyfriend near the hospital where she died.
Hernandez also started a GoFundMe campaign to help support Chase during her hospitalization. He wrote, “After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown L.A. When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved.”
The campaign raised more than $4,000, almost all of it in the first 24 hours following her death.
A career that defined a generation
The Las Vegas-born actress became a household name in the early 2000s with a string of iconic performances:
- ‘The Ring’ – She played the terrifying Samara Morgan, the ghostly girl who emerges from a well to kill anyone who watches her cursed videotape. Her performance won the 2003 MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
- ‘Lilo & Stitch’ – Chase voiced the spirited Hawaiian orphan Lilo, a role that earned her the 2002 Annie Award for best young artist. She also voiced characters in several of the film’s spinoffs.
- ‘Spirited Away’ – She provided the English voice for the lead character, Chihiro, in Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning animated masterpiece.
- ‘Donnie Darko’ – She played the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s title character in the 2001 cult classic.
- ‘Big Love’ – Chase played a recurring character over all five seasons of the HBO drama series.
She also had guest appearances on shows including ER, Touched by an Angel, Family Law and Without a Trace.
Her most recent on-screen appearance was in the 2016 film American Romance.
Legacy
Chase’s passing has drawn tributes from fans who grew up watching her performances. Her family remembered her as a fighter who never lost her creative spirit, despite the hardships she faced.
“All she ever wanted was a place where we could live together, feel safe and be happy,” Hernandez wrote.
Her work across animation, horror, and drama left an indelible mark on pop culture, and her voice will continue to resonate with audiences for generations to come.
