Daveigh Chase, Voice Of Lilo In Lilo And Stitch, Dies At 35

Former child actor Daveigh Chase, best known as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” and for her role in the horror hit “The Ring,” has died. She was 35.

Chase’s death was reported by multiple news outlets, including The Associated Press, NBC News, TMZ and The New York Times. No additional details were provided in the information available, including the cause of death or where she died.

Chase rose to prominence at a young age through performances that became touchstones for two very different audiences: families drawn to animated Disney films and moviegoers who embraced early-2000s studio horror.

In “Lilo & Stitch,” Chase provided the voice for Lilo, the lonely, headstrong Hawaiian girl at the center of the 2002 animated film. The movie became a major Disney release and grew into a long-running franchise, spawning sequels, television adaptations and merchandise that has remained visible in popular culture for years.

Chase also appeared in “The Ring,” a 2002 psychological horror film that became one of the era’s most recognizable genre blockbusters. Her role contributed to a movie that helped define mainstream American horror in the early 2000s and left an imprint through its unsettling imagery and atmosphere.

The combination of those credits made Chase a distinctive figure among former child actors, with performances tied to widely seen films that continued to be revisited and referenced long after their release. Her work on “Lilo & Stitch” in particular placed her voice in the daily lives of a generation of viewers who grew up with the character and returned to the story through reruns, home video and later franchise entries.

Chase’s death also arrives at a moment when legacy franchises and nostalgic reappraisals play a central role in entertainment, with classic titles frequently repackaged for new audiences. Her association with a major Disney property and a signature horror film underscores how a single performer’s early work can ripple through pop culture for decades.

What happens next is expected to include further statements from family, representatives, or studios connected to her most prominent projects. Additional information about memorial plans or official confirmations may also be released as reporting continues.

Chase leaves behind a film legacy anchored by two enduring roles that helped shape childhoods and chilled audiences, and her death closes the chapter on a performer whose work remained familiar long after the credits rolled.