Daveigh Chase, voice of 'Lilo' and star of 'The Ring', dies at 35 after health complications
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Daveigh Chase, the actress who brought Lilo Pelekai to life in Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' and chilled audiences as Samara in 'The Ring', breathed her last on Wednesday, June 17, according to TMZ.
She first gained widespread recognition in 2002 as the voice of Lilo in Disney's beloved animated hit 'Lilo & Stitch'.
Over the years, Chase also appeared in a range of film and television projects, including 'Donnie Darko', 'Beethoven's 5th', 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch', 'ER', and 'Mercy', cementing her place as a familiar face of early 2000s entertainment.
Daveigh Chase, voice of 'Lilo' and star of 'The Ring', dies at a young age
The actress was 35 at the time of her death. According to the publication, she passed away on Wednesday, June 17, after suffering complications from meningitis and a serious blood infection.
Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, told the outlet that the infection progressed into septic shock, leading to multiple organ failure. Earlier this month, Chase had reportedly been hospitalized in Los Angeles for malnutrition before her condition worsened.
Daveigh Chase, the actor who voiced Lilo in the animated “Lilo & Stitch” and played Samara in the American horror film “The Ring,” has died. She was 35.
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) June 17, 2026
Chase’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, said that she had been suffering from meningitis, which led to sepsis.
More details:… pic.twitter.com/RjPnS3fFLZ
News of her passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, many of whom are revisiting the work that made her a memorable part of their childhood.
Remembering Daveigh Chase's most iconic roles
Long before becoming a horror icon for a generation of moviegoers, Chase made her mark as one of Disney's most recognizable young voices. She rose to prominence in 2002 as the voice of Lilo Pelekai in 'Lilo & Stitch', a role that earned her an Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production.
The success of the film led Chase to reprise the beloved character in several follow-up projects, including 'Stitch! The Movie' (2003), 'Leroy & Stitch' (2006), and Disney Channel's 'Lilo & Stitch: The Series'.
That same year, Chase showcased a completely different side of her talent when she portrayed Samara Morgan, the terrifying antagonist at the center of 'The Ring'. Her chilling performance became one of the most memorable elements of the horror classic and earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Although other performers contributed to bringing Samara to life in certain scenes, Chase's portrayal remained synonymous with the character and was later incorporated into 'The Ring Two' (2005) and 'Rings' (2017) through archival footage.
Beyond those career-defining roles, Chase built an impressive resume across film and television. She appeared as Samantha Darko, the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal's titular character in the cult favorite 'Donnie Darko', and later returned to the role in the 2009 sequel.
