Daveigh Chase, the former child actress best known for voicing Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and playing Samara Morgan in The Ring, has died at the age of 35.
Her death was first reported by TMZ, with her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, saying she died on Tuesday, June 16, after developing meningitis and a serious blood infection that led to sepsis.
Chase had reportedly been hospitalized in Los Angeles earlier in June because of malnutrition before her health worsened. Hernandez said her condition later became critical as infection complications overwhelmed her body.
In the days before her death, Hernandez launched a GoFundMe campaign asking for help as Chase’s health declined. In the fundraiser, he said doctors had warned him that she might not have much time left.
Hernandez wrote that Chase had always wanted a safe and peaceful place where they could live together and feel at home. He said his hope was to give her comfort and peace during her final days.
The message added a deeply personal layer to the news, showing that behind the actress many people remembered from childhood films was a woman facing serious struggles away from the spotlight.
Chase was born in Las Vegas on July 24, 1990, and began building a screen career while still young. Her early work quickly made her one of the most recognizable child performers of the early 2000s.
Her breakout year came in 2002, when she voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch. The role made her voice familiar to millions of viewers and helped turn the animated film into a lasting Disney favorite.
That same year, she delivered one of her most memorable live-action performances as Samara Morgan in The Ring. Her chilling role in the horror film later earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Chase also voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English-language version of Spirited Away and appeared in Donnie Darko, giving her a rare connection to several films that went on to become cultural touchstones.
Her later credits included television work such as Big Love, where she played Rhonda Volmer across multiple episodes. She also appeared in shows including ER, Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and The Practice.
While fans remembered her for major roles, Hernandez’s fundraiser described a more painful private life. He said Chase had endured hardship, including family estrangement, bullying, and struggles to find safety and stability in Los Angeles.
Hernandez described Chase as someone who had been a light in his life. He said he had promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort he believed she deserved.
News of her death has led fans to revisit the roles that shaped their childhoods, from Lilo’s emotional warmth to Samara’s unforgettable presence in The Ring. For many, Chase’s work left a mark long before they knew anything about the personal battles she later faced.
Daveigh Chase’s death at 35 has left fans mourning both the performer they grew up watching and the person her boyfriend described as searching for peace. Her final days, as shared by Hernandez, have made the loss feel even heavier for those remembering the talent, vulnerability, and lasting impact she leaves behind.
