Daveigh Chase, The Ring’s Fear‑some Stranger, Dies at 35
Actor and voice‑actress Daveigh Chase, best known for her chilling performance as Samara Morgan in The Ring and for voicing Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, died at the age of 35. Manager John Ryan Jr. confirmed the actress’s death after she succumbed to sepsis following a bout with meningitis and after being hospitalized with malnutrition.
Chase began her career as a child at age four, doing voice‑over work and theatre in Las Vegas and landing a first TV role in the teen sitcom Sabrina The Teenage Witch at age seven. She went on to cameo in shows such as Charmed, ER and Touched by an Angel, before securing a 32‑episode role on the HBO series Big Love as child bride Rhonda Volmer.
Her breakout came in 2001 with Donnie Darko’s Samantha Darko, followed by her infamous role as Samara Morgan – a long‑haired ghost who surfaces from a television set – that earned her a 2003 MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. In the same year she voiced Lilo, earning an Annie Award for best voice acting in an animated feature, and would continue to voice the character in follow‑up projects.
Chase’s life outside Hollywood was quieter; she kept homes in Nevada and Los Angeles, often retreating to Las Vegas, and declined big studio projects for independent work. Despite her dedication to cats and rescue work, her journey included legal challenges, including a drug‑possession charge and a joy‑ride incident.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, with Chase’s bright voice, remains a cultural touchstone, and her performance in The Ring continues to haunt horror fans. The entertainment world mourns the loss of a woman who once said: “It was a uniquely interesting character to play, and I brought my own twist to it.” Her legacy will travel beyond the silver screen into the hearts of admirers across dimensions.
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