Disney fans are mourning the loss of Daveigh Chase, the actor best known for bringing Lilo Pelekai to life in Disney’s beloved Lilo & Stitch franchise.
For many audiences, Chase’s voice became synonymous with one of Disney’s most distinctive modern heroines. Her performance helped turn Lilo & Stitch into a lasting favorite, introducing viewers to a young Hawaiian girl whose struggles, resilience, and bond with an alien companion resonated with generations.
Chase auditioned for the role at just eight years old and went on to voice Lilo in Disney’s 2002 animated feature. She later reprised the character in multiple sequels, television episodes, and video games, remaining a key part of the franchise long after the original film’s release.
News of her death has prompted an outpouring of grief across social media and fan communities.
Daveigh Chase, who voiced Lilo in Disneyās āLilo & Stitchā and terrified audiences as Samara Morgan in āThe Ring,ā died Tuesday, according to TMZ. She was 35.
Chase won an Annie Award for voicing Lilo Pelekai in the 2002 movie and she reprised the character in āStitch! Theā¦ pic.twitter.com/8bkO6dzLVK
— Variety (@Variety) June 17, 2026
Earlier this month, Chase was admitted to the hospital due to malnutrition. On Tuesday, her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, confirmed to TMZ that she had died at age 35 after developing meningitis and an infection in her blood.
The confirmation followed a GoFundMe campaign launched before her death. In a tribute posted on the fundraising page, Hernandez asked supporters to help Chase find “comfort and peace.”
He described her as āa light in my lifeā and said she had endured āmore than her share of hardships,ā especially during her upbringing.
Childhood Favorite Remembered by Fans
Across Reddit, Instagram, and other social media platforms, fans shared memories of growing up with Chase’s work.
“I loved her performance in ‘Lilo & Stitch: The Series’ where she managed to flesh out Lilo’s dynamic with Stitch, Nani, The Experiments, and the other characters,” wrote one fan on Reddit. “The ending to the ‘Angel’ episode where Lilo realized that Stitch’s love towards Angel was genuine causing Angel to have a change of heart was my favorite Lilo moment in the franchise.”
Another fan reflected on the breadth of Chase’s career, writing, “This one really hurts, Spirited Away is one of my all time favs and I grew up on Lilo and Stitch (the movie and tv series).”
Others connected deeply with the character she portrayed.
“Heartbreaking,” one wrote. “She’s the same age as me and as a kid I hyper related to Lilo, having dealt with the threat of CPS hanging over my head at the same age.”
One fan recalled Chase’s impact across multiple iconic roles from the early 2000s.
“I remember as a child being so terrified after watching the ring and the only thing that comforted me was thinking about the fact that samara was lilo and chihiro. š rest well, daveigh.”
Tributes also appeared on Chase’s Instagram account, which has not been updated since 2017.
“Rest in peace. Huge part of my childhood. I’m so sorry,” one fan commented.
A Career Beyond Disney
Although millions knew her as Lilo, Chase’s career stretched far beyond Disney animation.
She became a recognizable face in horror cinema after starring as Samara Morgan in the American remake of The Ring and its sequel. The films helped establish the franchise as one of the defining horror properties of the early 2000s.
Animation fans also knew Chase as the English-language voice of Chihiro in Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed film Spirited Away, another role that introduced her work to a global audience.
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On television, she earned praise for playing Rhonda Volmer in HBO’s Big Love. Her performance brought her a nomination from the Young Artist Awards and further demonstrated her range beyond voice acting.
More than two decades after Lilo & Stitch first debuted, Chase’s portrayal of Lilo remains one of the most recognizable child performances in Disney history.
The franchise itself continues to evolve. Disney’s 2025 live-action adaptation introduced newcomer Maia Kealoha in the role of Lilo, bringing the character to a new generation of moviegoers.
For many longtime fans, however, Chase’s voice remains inseparable from the character that made audiences laugh, cry, and embrace the idea of finding family in unexpected places.
