The cause of death for actress Daveigh Chase, best known for her role as Samara Morgan in "The Ring," has been revealed as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the most advanced stage of HIV infection. The L.A. County Medical Examiner also listed chronic polysubstance use as a significant condition contributing to her death. Her passing occurred on June 16, 2026, at the age of 35.
Chase was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital in early June. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, had been seeking funds for her care through multiple GoFundMe campaigns in the weeks leading up to her death, describing her battle with meningitis, a blood infection, and sepsis. Hernandez stated that Chase had always been a source of light in his life but had faced significant hardships after a difficult childhood and a falling out with her family. He detailed her struggles with finding safety and happiness in downtown Los Angeles and expressed a desire to provide her with a safe home.
Chase gained widespread recognition as a child star in 2002 for her portrayal of the chilling Samara Morgan in "The Ring." Her career also included roles in "Lilo & Stitch," "Donnie Darko," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," "ER," and "Big Love." She largely stepped away from the public eye after 2013, with her last social media activity in 2017 and a final red carpet appearance in April 2013.
In the years following her career peak, Chase reportedly had several legal run-ins, including an arrest in 2017 for joyriding in a stolen vehicle. Her partner described a contentious relationship with her family and their struggle to find stable housing, noting that they were homeless in the years prior to her death. In a concerning incident in 2017, she was questioned after dropping an unconscious man at a hospital and leaving; the man later died of a drug overdose.
Prior to her death, Chase had been out of contact for an extended period, leading her manager John Ryan and stepsister Gaia Brown to attempt to locate her for several years. Ryan stated that their search led them to the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles, where he believed Chase may have been staying. He indicated that initial plans involved supporting Chase's health recovery, with potential rehabilitation arrangements being explored abroad once she was well enough to travel. However, Ryan claimed the situation changed, and she could not be located by the time they arrived. He remembered her as "the sweetest and brightest light in Hollywood."