Daveigh Chase, the former child actress who voiced the title character Lilo in Disney’s animated hit Lilo & Stitch and played the terrifying Samara Morgan in The Ring, died on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. She was 35 years old.
Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, confirmed the death on June 17. He stated that Chase succumbed to complications from meningitis and severe blood infections. These systemic infections caused septic shock, which ultimately led her body to shut down.
Chase had been hospitalized in Los Angeles earlier in June for severe malnutrition. Hernandez revealed she had endured significant recent hardships, including family estrangement and struggles while living in downtown Los Angeles. He organized a GoFundMe campaign prior to her passing to assist with her medical care.
The actress occupies a highly unique place in early-2000s Hollywood history. In 2003, she achieved the rare feat of concurrently winning an Annie Award for her heartwarming voice acting in Lilo & Stitch and an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for her physical horror performance in The Ring.
Beyond those breakout roles, Chase built a diverse acting resume throughout her youth. She played Samantha Darko in the cult favorite film Donnie Darko and voiced Chihiro in the English dub of the Academy Award-winning anime Spirited Away. She also starred as Rhonda Volmer during an extended run on the HBO drama series Big Love.
Chase had largely retreated from the entertainment industry and the public eye since 2016 following a series of personal and legal difficulties.