In brief
Daveigh Chase, the actress who brought the haunting Samara to life in The Ring and voiced the beloved Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, passed away at the age of 35. News of her death broke when her long‑time manager confirmed she died of sepsis following a bout of meningitis in a Los Angeles hospital. Chase’s career began as a child actress in Las Vegas and quickly grew to include roles in Donnie Darko, Big Love and a host of television appearances. A devoted cat lover and advocate for rescue animals, she chose a low‑profile life over Hollywood fame. Her legacy remains a blend of chilling horror iconography, heartfelt voice work, and an unwavering commitment to her passions outside the spotlight.
Daveigh Chase, best‑known for her chilling role as Samara in the horror film The Ring and as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s animated classic Lilo & Stitch, has died at the age of 35. Her manager, John Ryan Jr., confirmed that Chase succumbed to sepsis following a bout with meningitis, an illness that had left her hospitalized in Los Angeles. Chase had also been admitted for malnutrition before her death, a detail that was disclosed late in the hospital stay.
Chase began acting at the age of four in Las Vegas, where she worked in voice‑over and theatre before landing her first Hollywood role at seven. She stepped into mainstream recognition with minor parts in shows such as "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and later secured breakthrough roles in films like Donnie Darko (2001) and Samara Morgan in The Ring (2002). In the same year she voiced the feisty, Elvis‑loving Hawaiian girl Lilo in Lilo & Stitch, a role that earned her an Annie Award for best voice acting in an animated feature production.
Beyond the screen, Chase was known for a quiet, low‑profile lifestyle. She spent many years retreating to homes in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, often turning down high‑profile studio projects to focus on independent work. Friends and her manager described her as "not a Hollywood celebrity"—she preferred eating at a local Big Boy cafeteria and spending time with her beloved cats. She frequently worked with cat rescue organisations, using her public profile to support the cause.
Her filmography was diverse, including guest spots on TV dramas such as Charmed, ER and Touched by an Angel, as well as a 32‑episode run as child bride Rhonda Volmer on HBO’s polygamy drama Big Love. The Hollywood Reporter noted that later in life Chase faced legal troubles, including drug possession and joyriding in a stolen car.
