Actor Daveigh Chase Passes Away at Age 35
Former child actor Daveigh Chase, age 35, died in a Los Angeles hospital on Tuesday. Her father, John Schwallier, confirmed the death and said she had succumbed to complications from bacterial meningitis and a bloodstream infection, and was also suffering from severe malnutrition. Chase had been living as a homeless woman in the vicinity of the Los Angeles General Medical Center at the time of her death.
Chase first gained national attention as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s 2002 film “Lilo & Stitch.” She later appeared in the television spin‑off “Lilo & Stitch: The Series” (2003‑2006). In 2002 she also played the character Samara in the horror film “The Ring,” earning an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain the following year.
Reports indicated Chase had been living with a boyfriend in the months before her passing, although her father expressed uncertainty about the extent of that relationship. Her manager, John Ryan Jr., described her as a close friend and easy collaborator.