Early Career and Breakthrough

Daveigh Chase began acting at age 7 in commercials and stage performances. By age 8. She was appearing on TV shows such as ‘Sabrina, The Teenage Witch,’ ‘Charmed,’ ‘ER,’ and ‘The Practice.’ In 2001, she played the role of Samantha Darko in Richard Kelly’s cult film ‘Donnie Darko,’ sharing the screen with Jake Gyllenhaal.

Her most recognizable role came in 2002 when she voiced the character Lilo in Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ an orphaned Hawaiian girl who befriends an extraterrestrial. Chase also provided the English voice for Chihiro Ogino in the 2001 Studio Ghibli film ‘Spirited Away.’ She reprised the Lilo role in sequels and the 2003–2006 TV series.

Chase also appeared in the 2002 horror film ‘The Ring,’ playing the iconic and sinister character Samara Morgan, though From 2006 to 2011, she played a recurring role as Rhonda Volmer on HBO’s ‘Big Love.’

Personal Struggles and Later Life

Chase’s personal life was marked by ongoing struggles. Her father. John David Schwallier. Told The New York Times that she had battled substance abuse since she was 13 years old and that they had not spoken for over 15 years. Her boyfriend. Roy Hernandez. Announced her death on June 17, initially stating she had died from meningitis and septic complications. However, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later confirmed that the official cause of death was AIDS, with chronic polysubstance use listed as a contributing factor.

Hernandez and Chase’s family were in contact before her death, and Schwallier was able to visit his daughter at the hospital where she died. Schwallier stated that Chase had been homeless and was living in the area near the hospital. Her final acting role was in 2016 in the video game ‘Let It Die.’

After leaving acting, Chase faced legal troubles, including charges of drug possession and joyriding. Her boyfriend raised money through a GoFundMe campaign, but Chase’s former manager and family members criticized the effort, saying that Chase’s estate could cover funeral costs and that the campaign was not being used for her intended purpose.

Official Cause of Death and Legacy

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, Chase passed away on June 16 at the age of 35. The manner of death is listed as natural, with the primary cause being Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and the secondary cause being chronic polysubstance use. AIDS is a condition that occurs in the final stages of HIV infection and is characterized by severe immune system failure.

Chase’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, had initially shared a message on social media stating that she had been battling meningitis and a blood infection that led to septic issues. However, the autopsy report contradicted these statements and instead identified AIDS as the primary cause of death.

Chase’s father described a difficult relationship, explaining that Chase had lived a challenging life marked by homelessness and addiction. Despite the distance between them, Schwallier was able to visit his daughter shortly before she died. Her legacy includes a diverse body of work across film, television, and animation, and she is remembered as a talented voice actress and actress.