Actress Daveigh Chase, best known for voicing Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch and starring as Samara in The Ring, has passed away at the age of 35. The former child star died on Tuesday after battling meningitis, which led to sepsis.
Boyfriend Confirms Death
Chase's boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, broke the news to US outlet TMZ. He stated that the actress died in a hospital after being admitted earlier this month due to malnutrition. The infection caused by meningitis ultimately led to her death.
Rise to Fame
Chase's big break came in 2002 when she voiced the title character Lilo in Disney's animated hit Lilo & Stitch and its subsequent TV series. Her performance earned her an Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production in 2003.
That same year, she delivered a haunting performance as Samara Morgan in the horror film The Ring, starring alongside Naomi Watts. Her portrayal of the ghostly figure climbing out of a television won her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Other Notable Roles
Chase continued her voice acting career by voicing Chihiro in Studio Ghibli's classic Spirited Away, also released in 2002. In 2006, she landed a recurring role in the HBO series Big Love, which focused on a polygamist Mormon family in Utah.
She also appeared in the cult favorite Donnie Darko alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as TV shows such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, ER, and Mercy.
Chase's death has saddened fans worldwide, who remember her for her iconic roles and contributions to film and television.
