Daveigh Chase

About Daveigh Chase

Daveigh Chase (born July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – died June 16, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, USA) was an American actress, voice actress, singer, and former child model who rose to international fame during the early 2000s. Gifted with remarkable dramatic ability from an early age, she became one of Hollywood's most recognizable child performers through a series of acclaimed film and television roles, most notably as the voice of Lilo Pelekai in Disney's *Lilo & Stitch* and as the terrifying Samara Morgan in *The Ring*. Her career also included memorable performances in television dramas, independent films, and voice acting projects, earning her numerous awards and establishing her as one of the most talented young actresses of her generation.

Born Daveigh Elizabeth Chase-Schwallier, she was raised primarily in Oregon after her family relocated from Nevada. She began modeling and appearing in commercials while still a toddler and quickly demonstrated an aptitude for performing. At just a few years old, she was already competing in pageants and booking commercial work, laying the foundation for a successful acting career. Her natural talent soon attracted the attention of casting directors, leading her family to pursue opportunities in Los Angeles.

After making guest appearances on television series during the late 1990s, Chase's breakthrough came in 2001 with Richard Kelly's cult classic *Donnie Darko*, in which she portrayed Samantha Darko, the younger sister of the title character. The following year proved to be career-defining. She voiced the spirited young Hawaiian girl Lilo Pelekai in Disney's animated feature *Lilo & Stitch*, a performance praised for its emotional authenticity and warmth. She continued voicing the character in subsequent television and direct-to-video productions, becoming forever associated with one of Disney's most beloved modern characters.

Also in 2002, Chase delivered another unforgettable performance at the opposite end of the cinematic spectrum by portraying Samara Morgan in the supernatural horror film *The Ring*. Her haunting portrayal of the mysterious child became one of the most iconic horror performances of the decade. It earned her widespread acclaim, including an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. She later reprised the role in *The Ring Two* (2005).

Throughout the 2000s, Chase remained a prolific performer. She voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English-language version of Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award-winning animated masterpiece *Spirited Away*, further demonstrating her versatility as a voice actress. On television, she appeared in series including *ER*, *Touched by an Angel*, *The Practice*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *Without a Trace*, *Cold Case*, and *Big Love*, where she portrayed Rhonda Volmer, one of her most critically praised dramatic roles. She also appeared in films such as *Carolina*, *Beverly Hills Chihuahua*, *Jack Goes Home*, and *American Romance*.

Despite her early success, Chase's adult life became increasingly troubled. During the mid-2010s, she faced legal issues and gradually withdrew from the entertainment industry. Friends, family members, and former colleagues later revealed that she struggled with substance addiction for many years. According to her mother, those struggles began after a serious motorcycle accident in 2016, when prescribed pain medication reportedly led to opioid dependency before escalating into broader substance abuse. Over time, she became estranged from much of her family, and reports indicated she experienced periods of homelessness in the Los Angeles area while battling addiction. Former representatives and friends later described repeated efforts to locate and help her, although her personal difficulties ultimately overshadowed the promising career that had begun in childhood.

In June 2026, news emerged that Chase had been hospitalized in Los Angeles after suffering severe health complications, including bacterial meningitis and a bloodstream infection that progressed to sepsis. She died on June 16, 2026, at the age of 35—initial public statements focused on those immediate medical complications. Days later, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released its official findings, determining that the underlying cause of death was Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), with chronic polysubstance use listed as another significant contributing condition. Her death was ruled natural. Medical experts noted that the severe infections she experienced were consistent with the profound immune suppression associated with advanced AIDS. Publicly available records have not established how she contracted HIV, and no official source has identified a specific mode of transmission.

Although her life ended tragically after years of personal struggles, Daveigh Chase's artistic legacy remains significant. Her performances in *Lilo & Stitch*, *The Ring*, *Donnie Darko*, *Spirited Away*, and *Big Love* continue to be celebrated by audiences around the world. Her story has also prompted renewed discussion about the challenges faced by former child actors, addiction, homelessness, and access to long-term treatment and mental health care. She is remembered both for her extraordinary talent and for the heartbreaking circumstances that marked her later years.