Daveigh Chase, the beloved voice behind Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and the haunting Samara Morgan in The Ring, has tragically passed away at just 35 years old. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, confirmed the devastating news, revealing the actress died from complications of meningitis and sepsis.
Chase was hospitalized in Los Angeles earlier this month due to malnutrition. Her condition escalated when a blood infection triggered sepsis, ultimately claiming her life. Hernandez shared the heartbreaking update with media outlets, confirming the loss of a woman he described as the love of his life.
For millions of children who grew up in the early 2000s, Chase’s voice was synonymous with childhood itself. She was just 12 years old when she voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s 2002 animated classic Lilo & Stitch. The film became an instant cultural touchstone, with Chase’s performance capturing the loneliness, mischief, and fierce loyalty of the quirky Hawaiian girl who just wanted a friend.
Just one year earlier, Chase voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English-language adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. The film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and remains one of the most celebrated animated movies of all time.
While her voice work endeared her to children everywhere, Chase showed remarkable range with her live-action performance in The Ring (2002). She portrayed Samara Morgan, the ghostly girl whose disturbing presence haunted audiences worldwide. The role earned her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, cementing her ability to terrify as effectively as she could warm hearts.
The contrast between Lilo’s innocence and Samara’s menace remains one of the most impressive acting feats of the early 2000s. Chase was just 12 years old when she filmed The Ring.
Following her early success, Chase continued acting into adulthood, appearing in films including Big Love, Donnie Darko, and various television projects. She never quite reached the same level of fame as her childhood years, but her contributions to pop culture endured.
The circumstances of her hospitalization and death have shocked fans who remember her as a fixture of their youth. According to her boyfriend, Chase had been struggling with health issues leading up to her hospitalization earlier this month. The infection that ultimately claimed her life progressed rapidly.
Chase’s voice is permanently embedded in pop culture history. Lilo & Stitch remains a Disney franchise with an enthusiastic adult fanbase, while Spirited Away continues to introduce new generations to the magic of animation. The Ring, meanwhile, defined early-2000s horror and still sends chills down spines.
She was 35. She was a child star who outlived her child stardom but never outran the love audiences had for her. Her voice will echo in the hearts of fans who grew up with Lilo, and her face will haunt those who never quite forgot Samara’s crawl out of the television. Daveigh Chase is gone. Her work is forever.
