Daveigh Elizabeth Chase was an American actress born on July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She died on June 16, 2026, at 35 years old of septic shock and meningitis complications.
๐ญ Early Life and Beginnings
Chase was born to Cathy Chase and John Schwallier, and grew up with a younger half-brother named Cade. Her parents divorced during her early childhood, and she legally adopted her mother’s maiden name as her professional moniker.
She relocated with her mother to Albany, Oregon, where she spent her formative years. She began formal vocal and dance training at age three and frequently performed at local talent shows and pageants.
๐ Breakthrough Roles
In 2001, Chase portrayed Samantha Darko in the film Donnie Darko. That same year, she voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English dub of Spirited Away.
In 2002, she voiced Lilo Pelekai in Lilo & Stitch, winning an Annie Award in 2003. She also portrayed Samara Morgan in The Ring, earning the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain at the 2003 ceremony.
๐บ Television and Later Roles
Chase played Rhonda Volmer in the HBO drama series Big Love from 2006 to 2011. She reprised her role as Samantha Darko in S. Darko in 2009.
Her acting career concluded with the 2016 films Jack Goes Home and American Romance. She also provided the English voice of Kiwako Seto in the video game Let It Die in 2016.
โ๏ธ Personal and Legal Difficulties
In November 2017, Chase was arrested in Los Angeles on a felony charge after being found in a stolen vehicle. In August 2018, she was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of drug possession.
After her final film role in 2016, Chase stopped acting and withdrew from public view. The final decade of her life was marked by addiction and homelessness.
๐ฅ Final Months
In June 2026, Chase was admitted to Los Angeles General Medical Center for severe malnutrition. She was diagnosed with meningitis and several severe systemic bloodstream infections.
Her boyfriend created a GoFundMe campaign to help manage medical expenses. The campaign description stated that Chase had faced significant personal difficulties.
| Year | Role | Production | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Samantha Darko | Donnie Darko | Film |
| 2001 | Chihiro Ogino | Spirited Away | Film (English dub) |
| 2002 | Lilo Pelekai | Lilo & Stitch | Film |
| 2002 | Samara Morgan | The Ring | Film |