Daveigh Chase, known for her roles as the voice of Lilo in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" and Samara Morgan in the American remake of "The Ring," has died. She was 34.
Her father, John David Schwallier, confirmed to The New York Times that Chase died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). He also stated that at the time of her passing, she had been experiencing homelessness and living in Los Angeles with her boyfriend. Substance abuse was also cited as a significant condition the former child star was experiencing.
Chase began her acting career at the age of four and secured her first Hollywood job at seven. She officially retired from full-time acting in 2015, according to her manager.
Her early television work included a small role in "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." Chase's breakthrough came in 2001 with her portrayal of Samantha Darko in "Donnie Darko," followed by her appearance as the titular character's sister in the 2009 film "S. Darko."
In 2002, Chase took on the role of Samara Morgan in "The Ring," an American adaptation of the Japanese horror film about a cursed videotape. Her performance earned her an MTV Movie Award for best villain in 2003. In the same year, she lent her voice to Lilo Pelekai, an Elvis-adoring Hawaiian girl, in the animated hit "Lilo & Stitch." This role garnered her an Annie Award for best voice acting in an animated feature production, and she continued to voice the character in subsequent spin-offs.