Actor Daveigh Chase, renowned for providing the voice of Lilo in the popular Disney movie “Lilo & Stitch,” passed away at the age of 35 this week. The demise occurred at a Los Angeles hospital on Tuesday due to complications arising from meningitis and a blood infection. John David Schwallier, her father, verified the news to The New York Times. It was revealed that Chase had been homeless and living with her boyfriend near the hospital where she breathed her last.
According to her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, Chase had been hospitalized since early June for malnutrition treatment. In addition to her notable role in “Lilo & Stitch” in 2002, she lent her voice to characters in various spinoffs of the film and also voiced the lead character in Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning animated film “Spirited Away.”
The Las Vegas-born Chase appeared in numerous film and TV projects, including playing the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s character in the film “Donnie Darko” and portraying the antagonist Samara opposite Naomi Watts in the Hollywood remake of the Japanese horror flick “The Ring” in 2002. Her accolades include winning 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.”
Chase had a recurring role throughout all five seasons of the HBO series “Big Love” and made guest appearances on several shows like “ER,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Family Law,” and “Without a Trace.” Her last known on-screen appearance, as per her IMDB profile, was in the 2016 movie “American Romance.”
Before her passing, Chase’s boyfriend initiated a GoFundMe campaign to provide financial support during her hospitalization. Hernandez expressed their tumultuous journey, highlighting Chase’s troubled past and their shared pursuit of happiness and safety. The campaign raised over $4,000 US, mostly within the first day of her demise.
