Former child actor Daveigh Chase, who voiced the character Lilo in Disney's 2002 animated film "Lilo & Stitch" and portrayed the villainous Samara Morgan in the 2002 horror movie "The Ring," has died. She was 35.
Chase's father, John David Schwallier, confirmed to The New York Times that she died from complications of bacterial meningitis and a blood infection. According to her father, Chase had been homeless in Los Angeles with her boyfriend near the hospital where she died.
TMZ first reported Wednesday that Chase died Tuesday. The outlet did not specify a cause of death in its initial report.
Born in Las Vegas and raised in Albany, Oregon, Chase began performing at age 3, singing and dancing. She auditioned for the role of Lilo at age 8 and later won an MTV movie award for best villain for her performance in "The Ring." Chase also voiced a lead character in the 2001 animated film "Spirited Away" and had roles in the movie "Donnie Darko" and the television show "Oliver Beene."
Her father told The New York Times that Chase had struggled with drug use since she was 13 years old. He also stated that she had been estranged from her parents, who are divorced. Schwallier said he was in contact with Chase's boyfriend and was at the Los Angeles hospital where she received treatment shortly before her death.