Actor Daveigh Chase, renowned for voicing Lilo in the popular Disney movie “Lilo & Stitch,” passed away at 35 years old this week. The sad news was confirmed by her father, John David Schwallier, stating that Chase succumbed to complications from meningitis and a blood infection at a Los Angeles hospital on Tuesday.
Before her untimely death, Chase had been living with her boyfriend near the hospital where she was receiving treatment for malnutrition since early June. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, shared this information with TMZ.
Apart from her notable role in “Lilo & Stitch” in 2002, Chase lent her voice to various spinoff projects of the film and also provided the English voice for the main character in the acclaimed animated film “Spirited Away” by Hayao Miyazaki. Hailing from Las Vegas, Chase appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including portraying the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s character in “Donnie Darko” and playing the antagonist Samara alongside Naomi Watts in the Hollywood version of the Japanese horror film “The Ring” in 2002.
Chase’s talent was recognized with awards such as the 2002 Annie Award for best young artist for her work in “Lilo & Stitch” and the 2003 MTV Movie Award for best villain for her role in “The Ring.” She showcased her acting skills in the HBO series “Big Love” for all five seasons and made guest appearances on shows like “ER,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Family Law,” and “Without a Trace.”
Her last known on-screen appearance was in the 2016 film “American Romance,” according to her IMDB profile. Before her passing, her boyfriend initiated a GoFundMe campaign to aid her during her hospital stay, emphasizing her challenging past and quest for safety and happiness in downtown L.A.
The campaign raised over $4,000 US, with a significant portion of the donations pouring in within the initial 24 hours after her demise.