“Lilo & Stitch” Voice Actress Daveigh Chase Dies At Age 35
on Jun 17, 2026 • Updated Jun 18, 2026
Daveigh Chase, the young actress who lent her voice to Lilo in the beloved 2002 Disney movie Lilo & Stitch, has died. She was 35 years old.
TMZ reports that Chase’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, informed the outlet of her death, claiming she passed away on Tuesday, June 16th, after developing meningitis and a blood infection. This allegedly resulted in septic issues, and “led to her body shutting down.”
TMZ also claims to have been told that Chase was hospitalized earlier this month due to “malnutrition.”
Daveigh Chase 🤍 (1990-2026) pic.twitter.com/zxgZTAvgFv
— Letterboxd (@letterboxd) June 17, 2026
Daveigh Chase’s Former Manager Issues Statement
On June 18th, the day after news of Chase’s death broke, her former manager and longtime friend, John Ryan, issued a statement to Deadline. Ryan spoke out against a GoFundMe page created by Chase’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez:
Ryan claims to have been in touch with Chase’s family, telling Deadline, “[Her father] John [Schwallier] is next of kin and never signed any paperwork over to this so called boyfriend.“
His statement continued, reading:
“That GoFundMe is not going toward ANY expenses for Daveigh. Myself, her father, her uncle and all of us close friends who knew her for decades are encouraging people not to donate to this page.”
Ryan added, “This man making these claims brought her into the hospital in terrible condition and didn’t let any of the family know until she passed so he can control the dialogue. Daveigh’s actual family is handling all arrangements, we have contacted go fund me to let them know this man started this page on his own under Daveigh’s name when she was already unresponsive and [we are] urging people to report the page and not donate.”
Ryan said Chase’s medical bills and funeral costs will be covered by himself and her family, and there’s no need for the GoFundMe. He also said that Chase’s estate “has plenty of means to pay for the cremation.”
“I find it disgusting that this man is using our friend’s tragic passing to get a few bucks for [himself] and his family,” Ryan remarked
Meanwhile, TMZ reports that Hernandez said it is “100 percent” false to suggest the GoFundMe is not genuine.
Who Was Daveigh Chase? What Roles Was She Known For?
Daveigh Chase, who was born in 1990, began acting in 1998, when she appeared as an unnamed girl in an episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Additional single-episode roles followed in series such as Charmed, ER, and Touched by an Angel.
One of her first major roles came in 2001, when she played Samantha Darko in the 2001 film Donnie Darko. Also in 2001, Chase provided the voice of Chihiro in the English dub of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away.
The following year (2002), Chase voiced the feisty and lovable Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch. She reprised her role as Lilo in two of the film’s sequels (Stitch! The Movie and Leroy & Stitch) and in the spin-off TV show, which ran from 2003 to 2006.
2002 was a big year for Chase, as she appeared in another one of her most recognizable roles that year. She portrayed Samara Morgan in the terrifying supernatural horror film, The Ring.
The movie debuted when Chase was only 12 years old.
Chase remained busy after working on The Ring and Lilo & Stitch. She appeared in more films, including Beethoven’s 5th and S. Darko, and also continued acting on TV in series such as Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures, Big Love, and Oliver Beene.
Chase’s last on-screen role was in 2016, when she played Krissy Madison in the thriller film American Romance.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Daveigh Chase’s loved ones during this difficult time.
