Los Angeles Daveigh Chase, the former child actress best known for voicing Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch and portraying the terrifying Samara Morgan in the horror hit The Ring, has passed away at the age of 35.

Chase died on June 16 in a Los Angeles hospital from septic shock and organ failure caused by severe bloodstream infections and meningitis, according to reports. Her longtime manager, John Ryan Jr., confirmed that she had initially been admitted to the hospital for severe malnutrition before her condition deteriorated.

A gifted performer whose career spanned voice acting, film and television, Chase rose to prominence in the early 2000s as one of Hollywood's most recognisable child stars.

Born on July 24, 1990, she began acting at a young age and landed her first major Hollywood role before turning 10. In 2001, she appeared as Samantha Darko in the cult science-fiction drama Donnie Darko and voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English-language version of the acclaimed Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away.

Her breakthrough came in 2002 when she voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney's animated feature Lilo & Stitch. Her performance earned her an Annie Award in 2003, and she continued to voice the beloved character across the franchise's television series and subsequent productions.

That same year, Chase gained international recognition for her chilling portrayal of Samara Morgan, the vengeful child at the centre of the blockbuster horror film The Ring. The role earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in 2003 and remains one of the most iconic performances in modern horror cinema.

As she transitioned into adulthood, Chase took on more mature roles, most notably as Rhonda Volmer in the HBO drama series Big Love, which aired from 2006 to 2011. She later reprised her role as Samantha Darko in the 2009 sequel S. Darko and appeared in a number of independent films before concluding her acting career with the 2016 drama Jack Goes Home.

Following her retirement from acting, Chase largely withdrew from public life. In recent years, she reportedly faced a series of personal and financial challenges, including housing instability and estrangement from family members.

According to reports, Chase was hospitalized in June 2026 after suffering severe weight loss and malnutrition. Doctors later diagnosed her with meningitis and multiple serious bloodstream infections. A crowdfunding campaign launched by her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, to help cover medical expenses was created just hours before her death.

Hernandez announced her passing on June 17, saying complications from the infections led to septic shock and caused her body to shut down.

Remembered for bringing warmth and spirit to Lilo and terror to generations of horror fans as Samara, Chase leaves behind a body of work that made a lasting impact on audiences around the world.