Daveigh Chase, an American actress famous for playing Samara in The Ring and voicing Lilo in Lilo & Stitch, died on June 16, 2026, at age 35 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].

The Los Angeles County coroner officially ruled her cause of death as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), confirmed on August 2, 2026. The report noted her long-term chronic polysubstance use accelerated her death [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Despite AIDS and extensive drug use, the manner of death was classified as natural [4, 5, 6, 7, 8].

Chase’s life sharply declined after a serious 2016 motorcycle accident that led to chronic painkiller dependence and addiction. Her mother described how the crash triggered her severe reliance on prescription opioids [1, 4, 7]. In 2019, she was imprisoned for theft. In recent years, she lived in great poverty in a cramped camper van in downtown Los Angeles’s Skid Row with her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez [1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].

Hernandez originally claimed Chase died from malnutrition and complications of meningitis and sepsis, but the autopsy report disagreed with his account [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8]. After her death, Hernandez launched a GoFundMe campaign for medical and funeral expenses. Chase's former manager, John Ryan, denounced it as fraudulent, stating, “The family does not even recognize this boyfriend, and as a SAG member, she had ample trust funds. Fans should not fall for this scam” [1].

Chase’s father revealed she began using drugs at age 13 and had lost contact with him for years [5, 8]. Her career highlights included roles in The Ring, Donnie Darko, and the US version of Spirited Away, along with her iconic voice work in Lilo & Stitch [1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Actress Melissa Gilbert called Chase “bright and professional” and said her story should warn parents about the heavy pressures child stars face [4].

Chase’s mother, Cathy Chase, noted the downward spiral started after the 2016 accident, saying, “Since that injury, Daveigh developed a serious dependence and addiction to painkillers” [7].

The official autopsy report and coroner’s announcement on August 2 close the case on Chase’s death, attributing it to AIDS complicated by substance abuse. Her remains stand as a reminder of the toll of early fame, chronic pain, addiction, and illness.