Daveigh Chase, voice of Lilo and star of The Ring, dies aged 35 News Today

Daveigh Chase, the actor who gained international recognition as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s animated hit Lilo & Stitch and as the haunting Samara Morgan in the horror film The Ring, has died aged 35.

Actress Daveigh Chase has died at the age of 35

News of her death was broken by her friend Roy Hernandez, who confirmed to TMZ that Chase died on Tuesday after suffering complications related to meningitis and multiple serious blood infections. According to Hernandez, the infection in her bloodstream led to serious health complications.

Earlier this week, Hernandez started a GoFundMe campaign to support Chase during her illness. In a message posted on the fundraising page, he revealed the severity of her condition, writing that “Daveigh was recently diagnosed with meningitis and several serious blood infections. Her condition has become critical and doctors have told me she may not have much time left.”

Hernandez later told TMZ that an infection in her blood caused “septic issues and caused her body to shut down.”

More about Daviegh Chase

Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, Chase became one of Hollywood’s most famous child actors in the early 2000s. Her breakthrough came in 2002 when she voiced the vivacious and imaginative Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, a role that earned her widespread praise and contributed to the film’s enduring popularity.

That same year, she gave another career-defining performance as Samara Morgan in The Ring, an American remake of the Japanese horror classic. Her chilling portrayal of the supernatural antagonist became one of the most memorable horror performances of the decade and earned her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.

Following news of her death, tributes and messages of condolence began pouring in online, with many fans remembering the impact of her work in both family entertainment and horror cinema. Her appearances in Lilo & Stitch and The Ring remain significant cultural touchstones more than two decades after their release.

Chase is remembered for two very different but equally iconic characters who left a lasting mark on audiences around the world, with news of her death coming after a short but serious illness.