Daveigh Chase Dead at 35 as Coroner Cites AIDS, Polysubstance Use
Daveigh Chase, the former child actress who became known to millions as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, has died at 35. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has officially ruled the cause of death as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), with chronic polysubstance use listed as a secondary cause.
Chase also went by the name Daveigh Schwallier. Reports said she died in Los Angeles while homeless, even though there were still unclaimed residual checks tied to her work. Her former manager, John Ryan, said he had continued getting notices about the money for years. He told The New York Post there was “millions” in unclaimed money.
Ryan also said Chase was “too far gone,” allegedly hooked on heroin and fentanyl, to collect the money despite his efforts to reach her. He added that residuals are usually handled by next of kin after someone dies, which could put her father in line to receive the funds.
Chase first broke through as a child performer in the early 2000s. After landing the voice role of Lilo at just 8 years old, she went on to work on Stitch! The Movie, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, and Leroy & Stitch. She also played Samara Morgan in The Ring, appeared in Donnie Darko and S. Darko, and had a role on HBO’s Big Love.
Chase largely stepped away from acting around 2016. Her father, John David Schwallier, told The New York Times that she had been homeless and struggling with drugs since age 13, and that he had not spoken with her in years.
A resurfaced clip from 2003 also drew fresh attention online. It involved Sean “Diddy” Combs and Chase at an MTV event, and the video has circulated again on social media.
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Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, also launched a GoFundMe around the time of her hospitalization. He wrote, “After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown L.A. When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together, we found moments of happiness and hope.”
The official ruling brings a grim end to a life that once looked headed for long-term success in Hollywood. Chase was a familiar face and voice to a generation of viewers, but her later years were marked by instability, addiction, and isolation.