‘Lilo & Stitch’ Star’s Cause of Death Confirmed, and There’s More to the Story
Fans of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch have been mourning the loss of Daveigh Chase, the actress who originally voiced Lilo, since news of her passing broke earlier this month. Now, officials have confirmed exactly what caused her death.
Chase passed away on June 16 at age 35. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office, her official cause of death was Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. Chronic polysubstance use was also listed as a contributing factor. Her death has been ruled natural.
Earlier in June, Chase had been hospitalized due to malnutrition. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, later told TMZ that she had passed away from meningitis and a blood infection, details that line up with what’s now been officially confirmed.
A Career That Started With Lilo
Chase first auditioned for the role of Lilo Pelekai when she was just eight years old. She went on to voice the character in Disney’s 2002 animated film Lilo & Stitch, and continued playing the role across several sequels, a TV series, and video games over the years.
Her career didn’t stop there either. She played Samara Morgan in the American version of The Ring and its sequel, a role that helped turn the franchise into one of the biggest horror hits of the early 2000s. She also voiced Chihiro in the English dub of Spirited Away, a role a lot of fans still bring up when remembering her work. On top of that, she appeared in HBO’s Big Love as Rhonda Volmer, a performance that earned her a Young Artist Award nomination.
She also had roles in Donnie Darko, Jack Goes Home, and American Romance throughout her career.
Who Plays Lilo Now in Lilo & Stitch
When Disney released its live-action Lilo and Stitch movie in 2025, newcomer Maia Kealoha took over the role of Lilo. It gave a whole new generation of fans their own version of the character, even though a lot of longtime fans still think of Chase first when they hear Lilo’s name.
A Disagreement Over Funeral Plans
Since Chase’s passing, there’s been some tension around how her funeral is being handled. Her boyfriend, Hernandez, started a GoFundMe shortly before her death, asking for help and writing about the hardships she’d faced throughout her life.
But Chase’s former manager, John Ryan, says that GoFundMe money isn’t actually going toward her funeral. According to Ryan, Chase’s family is covering all of the funeral and cremation costs themselves. He also said that Chase’s father, John Schwallier, hasn’t signed any paperwork over to Hernandez, suggesting there’s some disagreement between him and Chase’s family about who’s actually handling things.
Remembering Daveigh Chase
Chase was born in Las Vegas in 1990 and began vocal and dance training as a kid, which eventually led to a career full of recognizable roles. Fans have been sharing memories of her work since the news broke, especially her time voicing Lilo, her role in Spirited Away, and her breakout performance in The Ring.
For a lot of people who grew up on Lilo and Stitch, her voice is still the one they think of first, even as the franchise continues with new movies and shows.
