Former child actor Daveigh Chase, best known for her roles in The Ring and Lilo & Stitch, has died at the age of 35.
Daveigh rose to international fame after portraying Samara Morgan in the English-language remake of the horror classic The Ring. She also became widely recognised as the voice behind Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch franchise and its subsequent spin-offs.
According to reports, Daveigh had been admitted to hospital earlier this week. NBC News reported that she died from complications linked to bacterial meningitis and sepsis.
Daveigh Chase’s Cause Of Death And Final Years
Daveigh’s father told NBC News that the former actor had been homeless and living close to the Los Angeles hospital where she died. He also said she had been suffering from severe malnutrition when she was admitted for treatment.
Her manager had previously confirmed to BBC News that she had been receiving hospital care. Daveigh stepped away from acting more than a decade ago after building an impressive career in film and television.
Career Highlights From Donnie Darko To The Ring
After appearing in television series including Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Charmed and ER, Daveigh secured a notable role as the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s character in the cult thriller Donnie Darko. Her character later became the focus of the direct-to-video sequel S Darko.
In the same period, she voiced Chihiro in the English-language version of Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed animated film Spirited Away before taking on the role of Lilo for Disney.
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Her career reached new heights when she was cast as the haunting Samara Morgan in The Ring. She later returned to the role in the 2005 sequel The Ring Two.
Daveigh also portrayed Rhonda Volmer in the drama series Big Love, appearing alongside Bill Paxton, Chloë Sevigny and Amanda Seyfried. Her final screen appearances came in the independent horror film Jack Goes Home and the thriller American Romance before she withdrew from acting.
Manager Pays Tribute To Former Child Star
Speaking to BBC News, Daveigh’s manager remembered her fondly.
“She was not very Hollywood,” he recalled. “She’d rather eat at Bob’s Big Boy and go home with the cats. She loved acting but wasn’t into the fame scene.”
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He also described her as “the greatest”.
Daveigh leaves behind a body of work that spanned film, television and voice acting, with performances that resonated with audiences around the world.
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