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Actress Daveigh Chase Dies at 35; Official Cause of Death Ruled AIDS

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Daveigh Chase, Former Child Star of Lilo & Stitch and The Ring, Dies at 35

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has officially ruled that the cause of death was AIDS, with chronic polysubstance use listed as a significant contributing factor.

"The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report... lists the cause of death as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The report lists chronic polysubstance use as a significant contributing factor."

Daveigh Chase, a former child actress best known for voicing Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch and playing Samara Morgan in the horror film The Ring, died on June 16, 2025, at the age of 35 in Los Angeles. The manner of death was ruled natural.

Prior to the official medical examiner's report, conflicting accounts regarding the cause of death were provided by family members and associates.

Cause of Death and Circumstances

Official Finding

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report, completed by investigator Trini Godoy and Deputy M.E. Dr. Martina Kennedy, lists the cause of death as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The case status remains listed as "open" as of the report's release.

Initial Accounts and Discrepancies

  • Boyfriend's Account: Roy Hernandez, who identified himself as Chase’s boyfriend, initially told multiple media outlets that she died from complications of meningitis and a blood infection leading to septic issues. Hernandez stated that Chase had been hospitalized for malnutrition earlier in June.
  • Father's Account: Chase's father, John David Schwallier, initially stated via text that his daughter died from complications of bacterial meningitis and a blood infection, and that she was suffering from severe malnutrition. He later told The New York Times that she was homeless and living in Los Angeles with her boyfriend near the hospital where she died.

Background and Personal History

  • Chase was born on July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas and was raised in Albany, Oregon.
  • According to her father, Chase struggled with drug use from the age of 13. She was estranged from her parents, who are divorced.
  • Her father reported that he had not spoken with her for over 15 years. He stated he was in contact with her boyfriend and arrived at the hospital shortly before her death.
  • Her mother, Cathy Chase, stated in an interview that after a 2016 motorcycle accident, Chase became addicted to painkillers and later other drugs.
  • After leaving acting, Chase faced legal issues, including charges of misdemeanor drug possession in 2018, and in 2017 for being a passenger in a stolen vehicle. She also served time in Los Angeles for burglary charges.

Fundraising Campaign Dispute

  • Roy Hernandez launched a GoFundMe campaign shortly before Chase's death, seeking donations for her medical expenses. The post described her as a talented childhood actor who faced significant hardship.
  • Chase’s former manager, John Ryan Jr., disputed the claims of the campaign. Ryan stated that Chase’s estate has sufficient means to cover cremation and funeral costs. He alleged the campaign was not authorized by the family and accused Hernandez of using the death for personal financial gain and of not informing the family until after her passing. Ryan encouraged the public not to donate to that specific page.
  • Hernandez told TMZ that it is "100 percent" false to suggest the GoFundMe is illegitimate.

Career

Chase began her career in 1998 at age 7, appearing in commercials and stage productions, with her first television role as a guest on Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Notable Roles

  • Film: She made her breakthrough in the 2001 film Donnie Darko, playing Samantha Darko. She reprised this role in the 2009 sequel S. Darko. In 2002, she played Samara Morgan in the horror film The Ring, for which she won an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. She also voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English dub of Spirited Away (2001) and voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney's Lilo & Stitch (2002), for which she won an Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting.
  • Television: She had a recurring role as Rhonda Volmer on HBO's Big Love from 2006 to 2011. She also voiced Lilo in Lilo & Stitch: The Series and subsequent spinoffs. She guest-starred on series including CSI, Cold Case, Without a Trace, Charmed, The Practice, ER, and Mercy.
  • Final Credits: Her final acting roles were in 2016, appearing in the films Jack Goes Home and American Romance, and providing voice work for the video game Let It Die.

Reactions

  • Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, directors of Lilo & Stitch, posted a tribute to Chase on social media.
  • Actress Melissa Gilbert, who worked with Chase on a television pilot, shared an Instagram post about the challenges of child stardom in the context of Chase's death.
  • Former manager John Ryan Jr., described Chase as "the easiest celebrity" he worked with and noted she was not focused on fame, preferring independent projects and her home in Las Vegas.