Daveigh Chase, the former child star whose career included iconic roles as a Disney heroine and a demonic entity, died Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 35. Her father, John David Schwallier, confirmed to The New York Times, the she died from complications from bacterial meningitis and a blood infection; he said that Chase had recently been experiencing homelessness in L.A.
Chase had a prolific career as a young actress, with a filmography ranging from animated classics to influential horror to Emmy-contending prestige TV. Like many young stars, she struggled to translate her early success into an adult career and struggled with addiction in her later years.
While her life was cut short, her screen legacy remains. Below is a look back at Chase’s five biggest roles and the accolades they garnered.
1. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
At the age of 11, Chase brought heart and humor as the voice of Lilo Pelekai, the eccentric, Elvis-loving young girl who adopts a chaotic alien named Stitch. The Disney film was a huge hit, grossing over $274 million worldwide. Chase’s voice work won her the 2003 Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production, as well as a Young Artist Award. She would reprise the role in sequels, spin-offs, and related projects. In a 2009 interview Chase said of her work, “I just want to make something that I love and people will respect. I want to do things that will change someone’s life, not something they’ll forget about tomorrow.”
2. The Ring (2002)
The same year Chase charmed audiences in Disney animation, she terrified them as Samara Morgan in Gore Verbinski’s psychological horror phenomenon The Ring alongside Naomi Watts. Crawling out of televisions and well pits, Chase’s portrayal of the long-haired spirit created an instant horror icon and made us never see VHS tapes the same again. Her performance won her the 2003 MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, where she famously beat out heavyweights like Willem Dafoe and Daniel Day-Lewis, and she went on to appear in the sequel.
3. Big Love (2006-11)
Transitioning into complex television drama, Chase joined the cast of HBO’s critically acclaimed series Big Love as Rhonda Volmer, a deeply troubled young girl raised in a fundamentalist Mormon polygamous compound. Across 32 episodes over the show’s five seasons, she brought a nuanced performance to the role of a child bride. The series garnered multiple Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations throughout its run.
4. Donnie Darko (2001)
Before reaching mainstream stardom in 2002, Chase broke out in Richard Kelly’s psychological cult classic Donnie Darko. She played Samantha Darko, the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s titular character, and while the role didn’t win her any awards, it proved she could hold her own opposite Hollywood heavyweights and helped pave the way for her burgeoning career.
5. Spirited Away (2001)
The same year of Donnie Darko, Chase voiced Chihiro Ogino in the American dub of Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece Spirited Away. Her vocal performance captured Chihiro’s journey from a whiny, frightened child to a brave, resilient young girl navigating a surreal spirit world. Chase’s work helped propel the film to massive international acclaim, culminating in Spirited Away winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
