Daveigh Chase, the actress who voiced Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and played the creepy Samara in The Ring, died from AIDS-related complications, according to official findings. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed AIDS as her cause of death.
It also named “chronic polysubstance use” as another significant condition. Officials ruled her death as natural. Chase died in a Los Angeles hospital on June 16. She was 35 years old.
Earlier reports suggested she died from sepsis after battling meningitis. Her manager, John Ryan Jr., told the BBC she became seriously ill before her death.
Meanwhile, her father, John David Schwallier, told The New York Times that Chase had been homeless. He also said she was living in Los Angeles with her boyfriend before she passed away.
Although her final years were difficult, many fans still remember her unforgettable performances on screen.
Chase started acting at just four years old. She landed her first Hollywood role at seven in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. However, her breakthrough came in 2001 when she appeared in Donnie Darko. She later returned as Samantha Darko in S. Darko.
In 2002, she terrified movie lovers as Samara Morgan in The Ring. Her chilling performance earned her the 2003 MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. That same year, she won hearts as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch. She also voiced Chihiro in the English version of Spirited Away. Later, she returned as Lilo in several spin-offs. Her manager said she stepped away from full-time acting in 2015.
Sadly, Chase faced several personal struggles after leaving Hollywood. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she had multiple legal issues, including drug possession charges and joyriding in a stolen car. Even so, her work continues to inspire fans across generations.
From making audiences laugh as Lilo to frightening them as Samara, Daveigh Chase built a career that remains unforgettable. Her death marks the end of a remarkable journey that left a lasting mark on film and animation.
