DAVEIGH CHASE, STAR OF ‘THE RING’ AND VOICE OF LILO IN ‘LILO & STITCH,’ DEAD AT 35

Los Angeles — June 2026

Daveigh Chase, the actress who became a defining presence in early 2000s film and television through her haunting performance in The Ring and her beloved voice role as Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, has died at the age of 35.

Her death was confirmed in a statement attributed to her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, who said she passed away after a prolonged hospitalization following complications from meningitis and multiple serious blood infections. The announcement was shared through a public fundraising page organized by Hernandez, who wrote that Chase had endured “weeks in the hospital” before her death.

“When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved,” Hernandez wrote. “Together, we found moments of happiness and hope.”

Authorities have not released additional medical details, and no official cause of death has yet been independently confirmed.

A child star who defined a generation of early 2000s cinema

Born in Nevada, Chase entered the entertainment industry at a young age and quickly became one of the most recognizable child actors of her generation. Her early television appearances included roles on shows such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, where she first appeared as a frightened child performer, showcasing a screen presence that would soon lead to larger roles in Hollywood.

Her breakout came shortly afterward, as she began appearing in major studio films that would define her career and leave a lasting cultural imprint.

One of her earliest widely recognized roles came in Donnie Darko (2001), where she played the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s character. The performance, though brief, placed her within a film that would later become a cult classic, praised for its psychological complexity and eerie tone.

But it was her next major role that cemented her place in cinematic history.

‘The Ring’ and the face of modern horror

In 2002, Chase portrayed Samara Morgan in The Ring, a role that transformed her into one of the most recognizable figures in modern horror cinema. The character—an eerie, vengeful presence at the center of the film’s narrative—became iconic almost immediately after the movie’s release.

The film’s success reshaped American horror for a new generation, and Chase’s performance, though physically limited on screen, became culturally unforgettable. Her image from the film, particularly the unsettling sequences tied to the cursed videotape storyline, remains one of the most referenced visuals in early-2000s horror.

At the time, Chase reflected on the unusual experience of portraying such a dark character at a young age.

“It was really fun,” she said in a past interview. “Most characters for kids are happy-go-lucky. Samara is different. She’s deep. It’s pretty cool.”

The role earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in 2003, a rare recognition for a child actor in a genre dominated by adult performers.

But the fame also came with unintended consequences.

Chase later described how audiences, especially her peers, struggled to separate her from the character.

“A lot of my friends were like, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t even look at you,’” she once recalled. “Then they’d say, ‘You’re still my friend, right? You’re not Samara anymore?’”

The voice behind one of Disney’s most beloved characters

While The Ring defined her public image, Chase’s role as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch (2002) offered a dramatically different legacy—one rooted in warmth, humor, and emotional depth.

As Lilo, the lonely Hawaiian girl who forms an unlikely bond with an alien experiment, Chase helped bring to life one of Disney’s most enduring characters of the modern era. The film’s central message—“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten”—became a cultural touchstone, frequently quoted across generations.

The contrast between her two most famous roles—one haunting, one deeply heartfelt—made Chase a uniquely versatile presence in early-2000s cinema.

Industry observers at the time noted that few child actors were simultaneously shaping both horror and family animation at such a high level.

A career marked by range and early acclaim

Beyond her most iconic roles, Chase expanded her portfolio into animation and international projects, including voice work in acclaimed films such as Spirited Away, where she contributed to the English-language version of the Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli production.

In interviews, Chase expressed a strong affinity for voice acting, describing it as a creative space she deeply valued.

“I’ve always wanted to be an animated character,” she said. “I’ve watched Disney films since I was little. Being part of that world was a dream.”

Her performance contributions helped bridge Western audiences with globally celebrated animated storytelling during a period when international animation was gaining broader recognition in the United States.

The pressures of early fame

Like many child actors who achieve early stardom, Chase’s career trajectory also reflected the challenges of growing up in the public eye.

By her mid-teens and early adulthood, she gradually stepped back from major studio productions, appearing less frequently in mainstream projects while occasionally resurfacing in independent roles and public appearances.

Her early fame, particularly tied to The Ring, remained a defining association throughout her life, often overshadowing her other creative work.

Industry analysts have long noted that horror roles, especially those involving children, can create lasting public perceptions that are difficult to escape.

Chase’s experience became part of that broader conversation.

Final days and reported illness

According to the statement shared by her boyfriend, Chase had been hospitalized for several weeks prior to her death, battling meningitis and related bloodstream infections.

Meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, can become life-threatening if not treated promptly. Bloodstream infections, particularly when severe or prolonged, can further complicate recovery and lead to critical health outcomes.

No additional medical records have been released, and representatives for Chase have not issued further public comment.

Tributes from fans and industry observers

Following news of her passing, tributes began circulating across social media platforms, particularly from fans who grew up watching her performances in both The Ring and Lilo & Stitch.

Many emphasized the duality of her legacy: the actress who embodied childhood fear in one of horror’s most iconic characters, and the voice that gave emotional depth to one of Disney’s most beloved animated films.

Film commentators also noted her rare position in early-2000s pop culture, where she simultaneously helped define two entirely different genres at a formative moment in modern entertainment.

A legacy that spans fear and family

Daveigh Chase’s career remains a study in contrasts—haunting yet tender, unsettling yet deeply human. Few performers of her generation left such a distinct imprint on both horror and family storytelling before reaching adulthood.

In The Ring, she became a symbol of fear embedded in the cultural imagination of a generation. In Lilo & Stitch, she helped articulate one of Disney’s most enduring messages about love, belonging, and family.

Together, those roles created a legacy that continues to resonate more than two decades later.

As fans revisit her performances, the emotional range she brought to each remains unmistakable—a reminder of a talent that shaped early-2000s cinema in ways both visible and enduring.

Chase is survived by family members and loved ones. Funeral arrangements have not yet been publicly announced.

Her death marks the end of a life that began in the spotlight, defined childhood entertainment for millions, and leaves behind a legacy that continues to echo through film history.