✓ verbatim from the press ◦ composed from multiple sources ? no verbatim passage
American actress Daveigh Chase, known for playing Samara Morgan in "The Ring" (2002) and voicing the character Lilo in "Lilo & Stitch" (2002), died on June 16, 2026, at age 35 in a Los Angeles hospital. According to boyfriend Roy Hernandez to TMZ, Chase died from meningitis and a blood infection that progressed to sepsis and multi-organ failure. She had been hospitalized in early June for severe malnutrition. ◦
Press quotes (1)
"Daveigh Chase, who voiced Lilo in Disney's original animated movie "Lilo & Stitch" and terrified audiences as Samara Morgan in "The Ring," died Tuesday in Los Angeles. She was 35. Chase's boyfriend told TMZ, which broke the news of her death, that she died from meningitis and an infection in her blood after being hospitalized in Los Angeles for malnutrition earlier this month."
The actress's father confirmed her death to the New York Times and disclosed that she had been homeless in Los Angeles, living with her boyfriend, and had been struggling with drugs since age 13. TMZ sources reported that friends searched for Chase in the Skid Row area — a section of downtown Los Angeles known for its homeless encampments — in the months before her death, after receiving video showing her "extremely thin and barely conscious in a tent or trailer," with her weight estimated at approximately 75 pounds (34 kg). ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Her father also confirmed her death to the New York Times, saying that she had been homeless and living in Los Angeles with her boyfriend. He told the newspaper she had been struggling with drugs since the age of 13."
"They were sent a video they believed showed Daveigh living on Skid Row, a section of downtown Los Angeles known for its homeless encampments. Our sources say her friends believed she had dropped to as little as 75 pounds... The California Post shared video posted on social media and later pulled showing the actress extremely thin and barely conscious in a tent or trailer."
Born July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Chase professionally adopted her mother's maiden name. Her career began in 1998 with an appearance on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." In 2002, at age 12, she gained worldwide recognition playing Samara Morgan in "The Ring," a role that earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. That same year, she voiced Lilo in Disney's animated film "Lilo & Stitch" and Chihiro in the English version of Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away." ?
Press quotes (1)
"Daveigh Elizabeth Chase-Schwallier was born on July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Cathy Chase and John Schwallier. She grew up with a younger half-brother named Cade, alongside several other half-siblings from her parents' subsequent marriages. Her parents divorced during her early childhood, and following the family separation, Chase legally adopted her mother's maiden name as her professional moniker."
Chase also appeared in productions such as "Donnie Darko" (2001) and was part of the cast of the series "Big Love" from 2006 to 2011. In recent years, she maintained an active social media presence — her Instagram account (@daveighc) had 53,000 followers and over 900 posts as of June 2026 — but stepped away from major Hollywood projects. Hernandez created a GoFundMe campaign before the actress's death, reporting that she had been "diagnosed with meningitis and several serious blood infections." ?
Press quotes (2)
"53K followers · 1.3K+ following · 908 posts · @daveighc · 9 Hours Past · 104 degrees on the 4th of JUUULY.. Right after @wherescodi poured all our water on me."
"According to Hernandez, Chase had been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital in early June due to malnutrition and, according to the GoFundMe he created prior to her death, had been "diagnosed with meningitis and several serious blood infections."
Daveigh Chase died on June 16, 2026, at age 35 in Los Angeles from complications of meningitis and blood infection that progressed to sepsis and multi-organ failure
Chase played Samara Morgan in 'The Ring' (2002) and voiced Lilo in 'Lilo & Stitch' (2002), work that made her known worldwide as a child
The actress was hospitalized in early June at a Los Angeles hospital for severe malnutrition before receiving diagnoses of meningitis and blood infections
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (6)
Daveigh Chase's father confirmed to the New York Times that she had been homeless in Los Angeles and struggling with drugs since age 13
Friends of Chase searched for her in the Skid Row area in the months before her death, after receiving video showing her extremely thin and barely conscious, with weight estimated at approximately 75 pounds (34 kg)
Roy Hernandez created a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign before Chase's death, describing diagnoses of meningitis and serious blood infections
Chase maintained an active social media presence with 53,000 followers on Instagram (@daveighc) and over 900 posts as of June 2026
Chase was born Daveigh Elizabeth Chase-Schwallier on July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada, daughter of Cathy Chase and John Schwallier, and professionally adopted her mother's maiden name
Chase won the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for her role as Samara Morgan in 'The Ring'
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Which Los Angeles hospital treated Daveigh Chase and which physicians certified the cause of death?
Why it's still unknown: No source identifies the hospital or the medical professionals responsible for the death certificate. Confirmation came from the boyfriend and the actress's father, without public official documentation.
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Was there documented family estrangement or was the relationship with family active at the time of death?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention that the boyfriend revealed 'estrangement from family after a troubled childhood,' but her father confirmed the death to the New York Times, suggesting some contact. The nature and timeline of the estrangement were not detailed.
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How much money was raised in the GoFundMe campaign and what costs was it directed toward?
Why it's still unknown: Roy Hernandez created the crowdfunding campaign before her death, according to E! Online, but no source reports the amount raised, the goal, or accounting of the resources.
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What was Daveigh Chase's last professional production and when did she end regular activity in Hollywood?
Why it's still unknown: Sources state she 'stepped away from major projects' and maintained a 'more discreet life in recent years,' but do not cite her last paid work or the date her active career ended. The series 'Big Love' ended in 2011, but there is no information about subsequent appearances.