Daveigh Chase, Voice of Lilo and Star of The Ring, Dies at 35
Daveigh Chase, the former child actress best known for voicing Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch and portraying Samara Morgan in the horror hit The Ring, has died at the age of 35. Multiple outlets confirmed her death on June 17 after reports from her boyfriend and representatives.
According to family representatives and her boyfriend Roy Hernandez, Chase had been battling meningitis and several serious blood infections. The illnesses reportedly led to sepsis and multiple organ complications. She had also recently been hospitalized in Los Angeles due to severe health issues.
Born in 1990, Chase became one of Hollywood's most recognizable child performers during the early 2000s. In 2002 alone, she voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney's animated hit Lilo & Stitch, provided the English voice of Chihiro in Spirited Away, and appeared as the terrifying Samara Morgan in The Ring.
Her performance as Samara earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, while her work as Lilo won praise from critics and Disney fans worldwide. She later reprised the role in multiple Lilo & Stitch sequels and television projects.
Beyond those iconic roles, Chase appeared in Donnie Darko, HBO's Big Love, Oliver Beene, and numerous television productions. Though she stepped away from major Hollywood projects in recent years, her performances remained beloved by audiences who grew up with her films.
Tributes quickly poured in across social media from fans remembering both the warmth of her voice work and the unforgettable impact of her horror performances.