Daveigh Chase captivated audiences as a child star for years before her ultimately death at 35.
News broke in June 2026 that Chase died after contracting meningitis and an infection in her blood, leading to a fatal case of sepsis.
Prior to her death, Chase took Hollywood by storm after starring in The Ring and Lilo & Stitch. She even won the Best Villain award at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards for her portrayal of Samara in the horror film The Ring.
“I just want to say, ‘Everyone will suffer,’” Chase, then 12, concluded her acceptance speech, channeling the demonic character that made her famous.
How Did ‘The Ring’ Child Star Daveigh Chase Die? What to Know So Far
Scroll down to revisit Chase’s career and learn more about her death:
When Did Daveigh Chase Start Acting?
Chase, who was born in Nevada but grew up in Oregon, made her acting debut on an episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch in 1998. She played a little girl on the TV show before portraying Shawna Landon at age 8 in the TV movie Michael Landon, the Father I Knew in 1999.
In the early 2000s, Chase had guest starring roles on Charmed, ER, The Practice, The Lot, That’s Life and Touched by an Angel to name a few. She also played Samantha Darko in 2001’s Donnie Darko.
Who Did Daveigh Chase Play in ‘Lilo & Stitch’?
Chase’s big break came in 2002 when she voiced Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch. She voiced the blue alien in two video games that same year, before reprising the role in 2003’s Stitch! The Movie.
The actress continued to voice the iconic character in several videos before playing Stitch on Lilo & Stitch: The Series from 2003 to 2006.
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How Did Daveigh Chase Become a Scream Queen?
The same year that Lilo & Stitch hit theaters, Chase made her big screen debut as Samara Morgan a.k.a. “The Ring Girl” in 2002’s The Ring.
Chase’s Samara had instantly recognizable streaky black hair and wore a bloodied white gown as she sought revenge on investigative reporter Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts). In the movie, anyone who after watching a mysterious VHS tape dies one week later.
Chase won an MTV Movie Award in 2003 for her portrayal of the flat-footed villain.
What Else Have You Seen Daveigh Chase In?
From 2003 to 2004, Chase played Joyce on Oliver Beene. She then voiced Betsy on Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures from 2007 to 2010. Chase also played Rhonda Volmer on Big Love from 2006 to 2011.
Her film roles included 2009’s S. Darko, 2012’s Little Red Wagon, 2014’s Transference and 2015’s Wild in Blue.
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Was Daveigh Chase Featured on Any Soundtracks?
Chase performed “The Yankee Doodle Boy” in a 2001 episode of The Lot. She is also credited with performing “Aloha Oe” on a 2003 episode of Lilo & Stitch: The Series as well as in 2006’s Leroy & Stitch video.
Additionally, Chase performed a song during an episode of Oliver Beene and two songs as part of the Big Love cast.
What Was Daveigh Chase’s Final Acting Role?
Chase’s last two roles hit theaters in 2016. She played Shanda in Jack Goes Home and Krissy Madison in American Romance. That same year, Chase voiced Kiwako Seto in the video game Let It Die.
When Did Daveigh Chase Die?
A decade after Chase stepped back from the limelight, her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, launched a GoFundMe page after she was hospitalized in June 2026.
“After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown L.A.,” he wrote on the page. “When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together, we found moments of happiness and hope.”
Hernandez revealed that the former actress was “recently” diagnosed with meningitis and “several serious blood infections.”
“Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left,” he added. “All she ever wanted was a place where we could live together, feel safe and be happy. Now, more than ever, I want to give her that sense of home and peace in her final days.”
Hernandez confirmed Chase’s death on June 17, 2026.
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