Daveigh Chase, the former child star best known for voicing Disney's Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and playing the terrifying Samara in The Ring, has died at the age of 35.
Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, has now revealed the heartbreaking medical crisis that unfolded in her final days, saying she suffered from meningitis, a severe blood infection and ultimately septic shock that led to her death.
He also shared that she had recently been hospitalised for malnutrition, painting a devastating picture of a rapid and tragic health decline.
Cause of Death
Speaking to TMZ, Roy Hernandez confirmed that Chase died on Tuesday after battling multiple serious infections. According to him, the conditions escalated quickly and caused her body to shut down.
Hernandez also revealed that Chase had been admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles earlier in June due to malnutrition. At the time, few details were made public, and her condition was not widely known outside close friends and family.
Weeks Before Her Death
Chase's final weeks were marked by medical concern, with Hernandez confirming she had been receiving treatment in hospital shortly before her passing. The admission due to malnutrition suggested a serious decline in her health prior to the infections that ultimately took her life.
While no full timeline has been publicly detailed, Hernandez's account indicates that her condition worsened significantly within a short period, leading to the fatal septic shock that followed the infection.
From Disney Darling to Horror Icon
Daveigh Chase first rose to fame as the voice of Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch in 2002, a role that earned her widespread recognition and an Annie Award for voice acting. That same year, she stunned audiences as Samara Morgan in The Ring, a performance that became one of horror cinema's most iconic characters.
She also voiced Chihiro in the English dub of Spirited Away and appeared in Donnie Darko, building a career that moved between animation, cult films and television. Her work in Big Love saw her take on a long-running role over several seasons, further cementing her place in early 2000s television.
Life Beyond Her Early Hollywood Success
As she grew older, Chase continued acting in smaller film and television projects, including Jack Goes Home and American Romance, which became her final credited role in 2016. However, her life outside Hollywood also drew attention over the years due to several legal issues, including arrests related to drug possession and a stolen vehicle incident.
Despite this, those who worked closely with her often described her as deeply committed to her craft and reflective about her career in interviews.
Roy Hernandez Remembers Her Final Chapter
He described the severity of her final illness and the sudden way it escalated, leaving little time for recovery once the infections spread. His account highlights how quickly the situation turned critical, with septic shock ultimately overwhelming her body despite medical intervention.
Following news of her death, representatives also paid tribute, describing Chase as a long-time friend and a deeply loved figure within her circle. One representative said they were even in the middle of working on a documentary about her life when she passed away.
Daveigh Chase's death marks a sudden and tragic end to the life of a former child star whose performances in both family favourites and horror classics left a lasting mark on pop culture.
