Daveigh Chase, the former child actress best known for voicing Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” and playing the terrifying Samara Morgan in “The Ring,” has died. She was 35.
Chase died Tuesday after suffering from meningitis and a blood infection that caused septic complications and led to her body shutting down, her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, told TMZ.
The actress had been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital earlier this month because of malnutrition, according to the outlet.
Chase broke through in Hollywood at a young age, landing the voice role of Lilo in Disney’s 2002 animated hit “Lilo & Stitch.”
She later returned to voice the character in the follow-up TV series.
Chase also voiced Chihiro Ogino in the American dub of “Spirited Away,” adding another beloved animated classic to her early résumé.
Daveigh Chase has sadly passed away at the age of 35.
She was the voice of Lilo in ‘Lilo & Stitch’ & Chihiro in the English dub of ‘Spirited Away’. pic.twitter.com/m9Tcss6N5q
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 17, 2026
Horror fans remember Chase for her haunting turn as Samara Morgan, the ghostly child at the center of the 2002 horror smash “The Ring.”
The chilling performance earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Beginning in 2006, Chase took on a recurring role in the HBO drama “Big Love,” which followed a fundamentalist, polygamist Mormon family.
She played Rhonda Volmer in 32 episodes during the show’s five-season run.
Daveigh Chase, the voice of Lilo in ‘Lilo & Stitch’ and Samara in ‘The Ring,’ has passed away at 35. Her boyfriend confirmed to TMZ that she died Tuesday from septic complications caused by meningitis. She was initially hospitalized in LA for malnutrition. pic.twitter.com/OAYapXNBLF
— MTN (@movietv_news) June 17, 2026
Her other credits included “Donnie Darko,” “Beethoven’s 5th,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “ER,” “Mercy” and other film and TV projects.
Chase also faced legal troubles over the years, which were previously covered by TMZ.
TMZ last caught up with the actress in 2012, when she spoke about her makeup habits and discussed her latest project.
Her family has since started a GoFundMe.
Chase’s death marks a tragic end for a performer whose childhood roles left a lasting mark on both Disney fans and horror movie audiences.
Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>
