Actress Daveigh Chase, best known for her chilling role in The Ring and as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, has died at the age of 35.
Her longtime manager, John Ryan Jr, confirmed that Chase passed away in a Los Angeles hospital after developing sepsis following a battle with meningitis. He revealed that the former child star had initially been admitted for treatment related to malnourishment before her condition worsened.
Ryan described Chase as a private and down-to-earth individual who preferred a quiet life away from Hollywood’s spotlight. Despite receiving opportunities to appear in major studio productions, she often chose independent projects and spent long periods living in Las Vegas with her beloved cats.
Chase began acting at just four years old, performing in theatre productions and voice-over work before securing her first Hollywood television role at the age of seven in the popular sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Her breakthrough came in 2001 when she appeared in Donnie Darko. However, it was her unforgettable portrayal of Samara Morgan in The Ring a year later that made her a household name. The terrifying character, known for crawling out of a television screen, became one of horror cinema’s most iconic villains and earned Chase an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in 2003.
The same year, she captured audiences’ hearts by voicing the mischievous Hawaiian girl Lilo in Disney’s animated hit Lilo & Stitch. Her performance received widespread acclaim and earned her an Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting. She would later reprise the role in several sequels and spin-off productions.
Beyond film, Chase also appeared in popular television series including Charmed, ER and Touched by an Angel. She also played Rhonda Volmer in the HBO drama Big Love, appearing in 32 episodes.
Although she stepped away from full-time acting in 2015, Chase remained a memorable figure to fans of both horror and animation. Her performances left a lasting impact on a generation of moviegoers, from terrifying audiences as Samara to bringing warmth and humour to the beloved character of Lilo.
Her passing marks the loss of a talented actress whose work continues to resonate with fans around the world.
