The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Daveigh Chase, the former child star whose performances in Lilo & Stitch and The Ring left a lasting mark on an entire generation of moviegoers.
Chase died on Tuesday at the age of 35 following complications related to meningitis, according to reports. Her passing was confirmed by her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, who had recently launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support the actress during a serious health crisis.
In a message posted to the fundraising page, Hernandez revealed that Chase had been battling multiple severe medical issues in recent weeks.
“Daveigh was diagnosed with meningitis and several serious blood infections. Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left.”
He later told TMZ that an infection in her bloodstream caused “septic issues and led to her body shutting down.”
For many fans, Chase’s voice became instantly recognizable through her work as Lilo in Disney’s beloved animated classic Lilo & Stitch. Released in 2002, the film introduced audiences to a spirited Hawaiian girl who forms an unlikely bond with a mischievous extraterrestrial creature she believes is a dog.
Chase’s performance brought warmth, humor, and heart to the character, helping make Lilo one of Disney’s most memorable modern heroines. She would continue voicing the character in sequels and the franchise’s television series, becoming closely associated with the role throughout her early career.
That same year, however, she delivered a performance that could not have been more different.
At just 12 years old, Chase terrified audiences worldwide as Samara Morgan in The Ring. Her portrayal of the ghostly girl at the center of the supernatural thriller became one of horror cinema’s most iconic images of the 2000s.
The role earned her widespread acclaim and helped establish her as one of Hollywood’s most promising young performers. In 2003, she won the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, beating a field that included some of the era’s biggest stars.
Born in Las Vegas and raised in Oregon, Chase began working in entertainment at a remarkably young age. Commercial appearances and stage productions soon led to television roles on popular series including Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed, The Practice, and ER.
She also appeared in Donnie Darko as Samantha Darko and later reprised the role in the sequel S. Darko. Another notable achievement came when she voiced Chihiro in the English-language version of Spirited Away, introducing many English-speaking audiences to the acclaimed animated masterpiece.
As she grew older, Chase continued working steadily, including a memorable recurring role as Rhonda Volmer on the HBO drama Big Love.
Following appearances in later film projects, including Jack Goes Home, she gradually stepped away from the spotlight.
According to Hernandez, Chase faced numerous personal struggles in recent years. In the GoFundMe campaign, he referenced challenges that included bullying, estrangement from family members, and difficulties finding stability in Los Angeles.
Despite those hardships, he wrote that they “found moments of happiness and hope” together before her health unexpectedly declined.
For millennials and Gen Z audiences in particular, Chase’s work helped define a major chapter of early-2000s pop culture. Whether she was making viewers laugh as Lilo or sending chills down their spines as Samara, her performances remain unforgettable. Her legacy lives on through the films and characters that continue to resonate with audiences around the world.
