Daveigh Chase, the actor best known for her roles in the horror film “The Ring” and as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch,” has died. She was 35.
According to TMZ, Chase died Tuesday, June 16, from complications related to meningitis and a blood infection. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, told the outlet she had been hospitalized earlier this month in Los Angeles for malnutrition. USA TODAY has reached out to Chase’s representative for confirmation and additional details.
Early Career
Chase’s film career began at a young age. She gained early recognition at age 10 for her role as Samantha Darko, the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, in the 2001 psychological thriller “Donnie Darko.” The performance helped establish her as a rising young actor in Hollywood.
Born in Las Vegas and raised in Albany, Oregon, Chase entered acting somewhat unexpectedly. In a 2009 interview with Interview Magazine, she said she began auditioning after her family became temporarily stranded in Los Angeles following a car accident involving her mother.
Breakthrough Roles
In 2002, Chase took on two roles that would define her career. She voiced Chihiro in the English-language dub of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film “Spirited Away,” which went on to win the Academy Award for best animated feature.
That same year, she voiced Lilo, the central character in Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch,” a role she would reprise in sequels and television adaptations.
Chase also starred in the 2002 remake of “The Ring,” portraying Samara, the central figure of the film’s horror mythology. Her performance earned her the MTV Movie Award for best villain, surpassing several veteran actors in the category.
Television Work
In addition to her film career, Chase appeared frequently on television during the early 2000s. Her credits included guest roles on series such as “ER,” “The Practice,” “Touched by an Angel,” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
Her most notable television role was on HBO’s “Big Love,” where she played Rhonda Volmer, a teenager raised in a polygamist community. The role marked a transition into more mature and complex characters.
Later Years
Chase’s final film appearance was in the 2016 thriller “American Romance.” In recent years, she largely stepped away from public attention, though her body of work totaled nearly 50 film and television credits across two decades.
In past interviews, Chase spoke about her desire to pursue meaningful projects rather than mainstream success. She said she hoped her work would have a lasting impact on audiences.
Chase’s death marks the loss of a performer whose early work left a lasting imprint across film, animation, and television.
