Disney’s Lilo Voice Actress Daveigh Chase Dies at 35 After Health Battle

Hollywood actress Daveigh Elizabeth Chase, best known as the voice behind Lilo in Disney’s animated classic Lilo & Stitch, has died at the age of 35.

Her death was confirmed by her manager and longtime friend, John Ryan Jr., who revealed that the actress passed away in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering severe health complications.

According to Ryan, Chase was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday due to malnourishment. Her condition later worsened after she was diagnosed with meningitis and severe bloodstream infections, with sepsis ultimately being listed as the cause of death.

Remembering the actress, Ryan described Chase as a private and kind-hearted person who preferred a quiet life away from Hollywood’s spotlight.

“She was the greatest. She loved cats. She worked with cat rescues with us. She was very to herself,” he said.

“She was not very Hollywood. She’d rather eat at Bob’s Big Boy and go home with the cats. She loved acting but wasn’t into the fame scene.”

Born on July 24, 1990, Chase began her acting career as a child, landing her first Hollywood role at just seven years old after starting performance activities at the age of four.

She gained international recognition for voicing Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, a role that earned her an Annie Award in 2003. She later continued portraying the beloved character across the franchise’s various projects.

Beyond animation, Chase was also known for her role as Samara Morgan in the horror film The Ring, which became one of her most memorable live-action performances.

Although she stepped away from full-time acting in 2015, her work continued to leave a lasting impact on fans who grew up watching her performances.

Her death marks the loss of a former child star whose voice brought one of Disney’s most beloved characters to life, leaving behind a legacy remembered by generations of viewers.