Former child star Daveigh Chase, best known for her unforgettable roles in The Ring and Lilo & Stitch, has died at just 35 years old.
The actress died Tuesday after battling meningitis and a blood infection that reportedly led to sepsis and caused her body to shut down, according to her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez.
TMZ was first to report the tragic news.
Chase had reportedly been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital earlier this month due to malnutrition before her condition took a devastating turn.
A representative for the actress did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chase became a household name at a young age, winning over families as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s beloved 2002 animated hit Lilo & Stitch. She later returned to the role for the franchise’s television series.
That same year, she terrified audiences as Samara Morgan in the horror smash The Ring, delivering the eerie performance that made her one of the most recognizable young faces in scary movies.
Her chilling turn as Samara earned her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Before those breakout roles, Chase also voiced Chihiro Ogino in the American dub of Spirited Away. She appeared in Donnie Darko and later landed a recurring role on HBO’s Big Love, playing Rhonda Volmer across 32 episodes during the show’s five-season run.
Her other credits included Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Beethoven’s 5th, ER, Mercy and more.
In the days before her death, Hernandez had created a GoFundMe to help Chase “find comfort and peace” during what he described as her final days.
“Daveigh Chase, my girlfriend, has always been a light in my life,” Hernandez wrote in the campaign. “Many people know her as a talented childhood actor from Lilo & Stitch, Spirited Away, and Donnie Darko. But behind the scenes, she’s faced more than her share of hardship.”
He said Chase had endured a painful childhood, a falling out with her family and struggles while trying to find safety and happiness in downtown Los Angeles.
“When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved,” Hernandez wrote. “Together, we found moments of happiness and hope.”
He added that Chase’s wish was simple.
“All she ever wanted was a place where we could live together, feel safe, and be happy,” he wrote. “Now, more than ever, I want to give her that sense of home and peace in her final days.”
Chase leaves behind a legacy that touched millions — from children who grew up loving Lilo to horror fans who never forgot the terrifying image of Samara crawling out of the TV.