Daveigh Chase, Voice Of Disney’s Lilo And The Ring Villain Samara, Dies At 35

Daveigh Chase, the child actress who voiced Disney's Lilo and terrified a generation as Samara Morgan in The Ring, has died. She was 35.

Her passing was confirmed on June 17, 2026, by her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, who told TMZ that Chase died a day earlier from meningitis and a severe blood infection that developed into sepsis, ultimately causing multiple organ failure.

Chase had reportedly been admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles earlier in June due to malnutrition, highlighting a rapid and devastating decline in her health. The official cause of death has not yet been released by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. However, the details shared by Hernandez with TMZ point to serious medical complications that contributed to her death.

GoFundMe Emotional Statement by Boyfriend and Last Moments

In an effort to honour Chase's memory, Hernandez launched a GoFundMe campaign shortly after her death. In an emotional statement, he revealed that Chase had been diagnosed with meningitis and multiple blood infections, which had progressed to a critical stage.

Hernandez wrote that one of his biggest wishes was for the couple to eventually have a home they could call their own.

He also described Chase's struggles away from the spotlight, including growing up in a troubled household, dealing with family turmoil, and facing housing difficulties in downtown Los Angeles.

"The moment we first met, I promised her that I would protect her and take care of her in every way possible - as if she were a princess, and I am hers."

Meningitis - The Disease That Claimed Her Life

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.

In severe cases, particularly bacterial meningitis, the infection can spread into the bloodstream and cause septicemia or sepsis, potentially leading to organ failure if left untreated. According to Hernandez's account, Chase suffered from meningitis along with multiple blood infections.

Common symptoms of meningitis include:

• Severe headache
• High fever
• Neck stiffness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Sensitivity to light
• Fatigue

A Career Spanning More Than Two Decades

Born on July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and raised in Albany, Oregon, Chase began her acting career at the age of seven, appearing in commercials and stage productions.

By the age of eight, she had already appeared in popular television series including Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Charmed, The Practice, and ER.

A major breakthrough came in 2001 when she played Samantha Darko in Richard Kelly's cult classic Donnie Darko, starring Jake Gyllenhaal. In the same year, she provided the English voice for Chihiro Ogino in the acclaimed animated film Spirited Away.

Chase achieved widespread recognition in 2002 with two career-defining roles. She voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney's Lilo & Stitch, earning nominations and recognition from the Young Artist Awards and Annie Awards for her voice performance.

That same year, she starred as Samara Morgan in the horror blockbuster The Ring. Her chilling portrayal earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain and cemented her status as one of the most memorable horror figures of the decade, particularly for the iconic scene in which her character emerges from a television screen.

In 2006, Chase returned to television with HBO's Big Love, a drama series centred on a polygamist Mormon family.