Daveigh Chase, recognized for her iconic performance as the ghost in The Ring and as the voice of Lilo in the Disney film Lilo & Stitch, has passed away at the age of 35. According to reports from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the cause of death was Aids. The medical report also noted that chronic polysubstance use was a significant factor contributing to her health decline.
Chase, whose career included voicing Chihiro in the English adaptation of Spirited Away and appearing in the television series Big Love, died on June 16. While her manager, John Ryan Jr., initially indicated to the press that she died from sepsis resulting from meningitis, the official medical findings point to different primary causes. Her father, John David Schwallier, noted that she had been experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles prior to her death.
A child star who began working in the industry at the age of four, Chase secured her first professional role at seven with a brief appearance on Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She gained prominence through roles in Donnie Darko and the 2002 horror hit The Ring, for which she received an MTV Movie Award for best villain. Additionally, she earned critical acclaim for voicing Lilo, including an Annie Award for her performance in the animated feature. Chase shifted away from full-time acting in 2015.