Daveigh Chase, Voice of Lilo and Chihiro, Dies at 35

Daveigh Chase — who voiced Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and played Samara in Gore Verbinski’s version of The Ring — has reportedly died. She was 35. Her boyfriend announced her death to TMZ, saying she died from meningitis and a blood infection.

Born in 1990 in Las Vegas, Chase’s big break was playing Lilo in the Disney hit. She continued the role through the sequel movies and Lilo & Stitch: The Series. And she continued her voice acting work as the English version of Chihiro in Spirited Away. That film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2003 and inspired a Billie Eilish song over 20 years later.

In 2002, Chase played Samara, the child who would become the well-dwelling spirit in the American remake of The Ring. She accepted the Best Villain Award at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards, on behalf of herself and the other two women (stunt performer Kelly Stables and contortionist Bonnie Morgan) who brought the character to life. Other roles included Rhonda on Big Love and Samantha Darko in Donnie Darko, playing the character again in 2009’s S. Darko. Her last acting role was a return to voice acting, a free-to-play video game in 2016.