Daveigh Chase Dies at 35: Remembering the Voice of Lilo and Samara in The Ring

Daveigh Chase, the actor who gave Lilo her warm, stubborn voice in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" and terrified a generation as Samara Morgan in "The Ring," died on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. She was 35. The news drove a wave of searches across the United States in the days that followed, as fans who grew up with her work tried to understand what had happened and to revisit the films and shows that made her a quietly memorable presence on screen.

This article is a respectful look back at her career rather than a breaking-news bulletin. We will walk through the roles that defined her, from a heartfelt animated lead to one of the most unsettling horror antagonists of the 2000s, lay out what has been reported about her passing and how to read those reports honestly, and point you to where you can stream or rent her best-known work right now. Throughout, we stick to what reputable outlets have confirmed and flag anything that is still unverified.

Who was Daveigh Chase?

Daveigh Chase was an American actor whose career stretched across animation, horror, drama, and prestige television. She was born Daveigh Elizabeth Chase on July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas and raised in Albany, Oregon, according to KTLA. She began working as a child performer and broke through in the early 2000s during a remarkable run of films that have only grown in stature with time.

What made her stand out was range. In the same window of a few short years, she carried a Disney animated feature as its emotional center, anchored a horror blockbuster as its source of dread, and turned up in one of the most influential cult films of the decade. Those are three very different registers, and she handled all of them while she was still a child performer. If you have seen any of her marquee titles, you have probably underestimated how much of their effect rests on her performance.

The voice of Lilo in "Lilo & Stitch"

For many viewers, Chase will always be Lilo Pelekai, the lonely, imaginative Hawaiian girl who adopts a blue alien she believes is a dog. She voiced Lilo in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" (2002), and the role earned her an Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.

It is easy to forget how much of "Lilo & Stitch" hinges on a child actor's voice work. Lilo is not a tidy, sweetened Disney heroine. She is grieving, prickly, funny, and deeply lonely, and the film trusts its young lead to carry real emotional weight alongside the slapstick. Chase delivered exactly that, giving Lilo a stubborn streak and a tenderness that made the movie's "ohana means family" message land without feeling forced. More than two decades on, the film remains a fixture of family movie nights, and her performance is a big part of why.

Samara Morgan and "The Ring"

If "Lilo & Stitch" showed her warmth, "The Ring" (2002) showed her range in the opposite direction. Chase played Samara Morgan, the figure at the heart of Gore Verbinski's American remake of the Japanese horror film. Her work in the role won her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.

"The Ring" became a defining horror film of its era, and Samara became one of its most enduring images. The character's appearance, with her face hidden behind a curtain of dark hair, turned into shorthand for early-2000s horror and inspired countless parodies and homages. That kind of cultural staying power is rare, and it speaks to how effective Chase was at making a largely silent, deeply eerie character feel genuinely threatening. It is a striking contrast: the same young performer who could make audiences cry for a lonely little girl could also make them afraid to look at a television set.

"Donnie Darko," "Spirited Away," and her wider filmography

Chase's early run was not limited to her two most famous roles. She played Samantha Darko, the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal's title character, in Richard Kelly's cult favorite "Donnie Darko" (2001), per Variety and Deadline. She later reprised the role in the 2009 sequel "S. Darko," according to the same outlets. "Donnie Darko" found much of its audience after its theatrical release, growing into a touchstone for a certain kind of moody, time-bending storytelling, and Chase was part of its original ensemble.

She also has a notable connection to one of the most acclaimed animated films of all time. Chase voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English-language dub of Studio Ghibli's "Spirited Away," which had its US release in the 2001 to 2002 window, as reported by Variety and Deadline. Voicing the lead of an English dub is a specific and demanding craft, since you are matching the timing of an existing performance while making the character feel natural in a new language, and it placed her at the center of a film that introduced many Western viewers to Hayao Miyazaki's work.

Rhonda Volmer on HBO's "Big Love"

On television, her most substantial role was Rhonda Volmer in HBO's "Big Love," where she appeared in 32 episodes, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline. "Big Love," which ran on HBO during its original 2006 to 2011 broadcast, was a drama about a polygamous family in suburban Utah, and Rhonda was a memorably difficult character within that world.

The role mattered because it showed Chase making the transition from child performer to adult actor working in prestige cable drama, a notoriously hard jump for young stars to make. A recurring part across so many episodes of an HBO series gave her room to build a character over time rather than in a single scene, and it stands as her longest-running television credit.

What has been reported about her death

Chase died on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at age 35, according to Variety, Deadline, and The Hollywood Reporter. Her death was confirmed by her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, to TMZ, which broke the news, and her father separately confirmed her death to The New York Times, per Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline.

As for what happened, here is what we know, framed exactly as it was reported. The reported cause was meningitis and an infection in her blood that led to septic complications, after she had been hospitalized in Los Angeles for malnutrition earlier in the month, according to Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline. It is important to be careful with that detail. The cause was relayed by her boyfriend Roy Hernandez to TMZ, and reporting at the time noted that an official, medical-examiner cause had not yet been formally released. In other words, treat the cause as reported rather than as a final, official determination.

A few dates are worth a quick note for clarity. Several outlets published their reports on June 17, 2026, while referring to her dying "Tuesday," which was June 16. We have used "died Tuesday, June 16, 2026" here and treat the date as reported. Details of the earlier hospitalization were also reported through statements from her boyfriend rather than official records, so we mention them only briefly and without elaboration. Out of respect for Chase and her family, we are not speculating beyond what named outlets have actually said.

Where to watch Daveigh Chase's movies and shows

If her passing has you wanting to revisit her work, here is where her best-known titles are streaming or available to rent in the US. Streaming catalogs change frequently, so treat the platforms below as a starting point and confirm availability at the time you read this. All listings are per JustWatch US unless noted.

"Lilo & Stitch" (2002)

Streaming on Disney+ in the US. It is also available to buy or rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. This is the natural starting point if you want her signature performance.

"The Ring" (2002)

Streaming via Paramount+, plus the library services Kanopy and Hoopla, which you can often access free through a participating library card. You can also buy or rent it on Prime Video and Apple TV.

"Donnie Darko" (2001)

Streaming on Prime Video and Hulu, with free, ad-supported options on Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Pluto TV. It is also available to buy or rent on Apple TV and Amazon Video.

"Spirited Away" (English dub, 2001)

Streaming on Max in the US, where you can hear Chase as the voice of Chihiro. It is also available to buy or rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.

"Big Love" (2006 to 2011)

As an HBO series, "Big Love" has typically lived on Max. Because HBO catalog titles can rotate, we would verify current Max availability before settling in for a rewatch.

Why her work still resonates

Part of what makes Chase's career so worth revisiting is how durable her most famous roles have proven. "Lilo & Stitch" is still a beloved entry point to Disney animation for new generations of kids. "The Ring" is still a reference point whenever people talk about American horror remakes. "Donnie Darko" still turns up on cult-classic lists, and "Spirited Away" is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated films ever made. To have a hand in four titles with that kind of longevity, before adulthood, is genuinely unusual.

There is also something quietly impressive about the breadth of her early work. Voice acting, live-action horror, indie drama, and an English-language anime dub are four distinct disciplines, and she moved among them without obvious strain. For viewers who only know her from one role, exploring the others is a small revelation. The girl who voiced Lilo and the figure who haunted "The Ring" are the same performer, and that contrast is a fitting summary of her talent.

Frequently asked questions

How did Daveigh Chase die?

The reported cause was meningitis and an infection in her blood that led to septic complications, following a hospitalization in Los Angeles for malnutrition earlier in the month, according to Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline. That cause was relayed by her boyfriend Roy Hernandez to TMZ, and reporting at the time noted an official medical-examiner cause had not yet been formally released, so it should be read as reported rather than as a final determination.

When did Daveigh Chase die and how old was she?

She died on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at age 35, according to Variety, Deadline, and The Hollywood Reporter. Several outlets published their reports on June 17, 2026, while referring to her dying "Tuesday," so we treat June 16 as the date as reported.

What was Daveigh Chase best known for?

She is best known for voicing Lilo in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" (2002), a role that won her an Annie Award, and for playing Samara Morgan in "The Ring" (2002), which won her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, per The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Deadline.

Did Daveigh Chase voice Chihiro in "Spirited Away"?

Yes. She voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English-language dub of "Spirited Away," which had its US release in the 2001 to 2002 window, according to Variety and Deadline.

What TV shows was Daveigh Chase in?

Her most substantial television role was Rhonda Volmer in HBO's "Big Love," where she appeared in 32 episodes, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.

Where can I watch her movies right now?

In the US, "Lilo & Stitch" is on Disney+, "The Ring" is on Paramount+, "Donnie Darko" is on Prime Video and Hulu (plus free options like Tubi), and "Spirited Away" is on Max, per JustWatch US. Catalogs change, so confirm availability when you go to watch.

What to watch next

• Lilo & Stitch (2002), her signature voice role and the warmest entry point into her work.
• The Ring (2002), her breakout live-action turn as Samara Morgan and a defining 2000s horror film.
• Donnie Darko (2001), an early standout supporting role in an enduring cult classic.
• Spirited Away (English dub, 2001), where you can hear her as the voice of Chihiro in a Studio Ghibli landmark.
• Big Love (2006 to 2011), her longest-running television role as Rhonda Volmer on HBO.

Daveigh Chase leaves behind a body of work that a lot of viewers have loved for decades, often without realizing how many of their favorites she touched. Revisiting these films and shows is a fitting way to remember her, and our thoughts are with her family. For more streaming guides, browse our blog, or use The Movies Finder to find your next watch.