Daveigh Chase, voice of Lilo, died of AIDS, coroner says
Daveigh Chase, the voice of Lilo in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch," died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at age 35, the Los Angeles County coroner's office has confirmed. Chronic polysubstance use was listed as a secondary cause. Chase died June 17 in Los Angeles, closing weeks of speculation after her passing.
Chase, who also went by Daveigh Schwallier, voiced the Hawaiian protagonist in the 2002 animated film and starred as Samara Morgan in "The Ring." For audiences who grew up with her work, the coroner's ruling reframes a death that family and friends had described in different terms.
Key Takeaways
- The LA coroner's office confirmed AIDS as Daveigh Chase's cause of death, with chronic polysubstance use as a contributing condition.
- Chase died June 17 in Los Angeles at age 35; she was widely known as the voice of Lilo in "Lilo & Stitch."
- Her father told the New York Times she had been homeless and struggled with drugs since age 13.
- Chase's boyfriend Roy Hernandez had initially cited meningitis and sepsis; the coroner's findings supersede those early reports.
- Chase had largely stopped acting around 2016, years after her breakout voice and screen roles.
Who was Daveigh Chase?
Daveigh Chase became a defining voice of early-2000s animation by playing Lilo Pelekai in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch." That performance made her one of the most recognizable child voice actors of her generation, even among viewers who never saw her face on screen.
On camera, Chase terrified audiences as Samara Morgan in the 2002 horror hit "The Ring." She was also credited under the name Daveigh Schwallier throughout her career. By around 2016, Chase had largely stepped away from acting, leaving a relatively small but deeply memorable body of work.
What did the LA coroner's office report?
The Los Angeles Coroner's Office announced that Chase died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, commonly known as AIDS. A secondary cause was listed as chronic polysubstance use, meaning long-term substance abuse contributed to her death.
Coroner rulings carry legal and medical authority in California. They are often the final word when initial reports from family or media outlets point to different conditions. In Chase's case, the office's findings replace earlier accounts that focused on infections alone.
Variety first reported the coroner's announcement, noting that Chase died June 17 in Los Angeles at 35.
How did her family and boyfriend describe her final months?
Chase's father, John David Schwallier, told the New York Times that she had been homeless and living in Los Angeles with her boyfriend. He said she had struggled with drugs since the age of 13 and that he had not spoken with her in many years.
Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, initially told TMZ that Chase had contracted meningitis as well as sepsis, a serious reaction to an infection. Those early reports circulated widely before the coroner's office completed its review.
In a GoFundMe post before her death, Hernandez wrote that Chase faced a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family. He said she was bullied and struggled to find safety in downtown Los Angeles, and that together they had found moments of happiness and hope.
Why does this matter for Lilo & Stitch fans?
Chase's voice helped shape one of Disney's most beloved animated characters. Her death at 35 already stunned fans across animation and horror fandoms. The official cause of death adds a sobering layer to a story that had been discussed largely through initial hospital and family accounts.
As streaming platforms continue to carry classic Disney titles, Chase's performance as Lilo remains widely available to new generations of viewers. Her passing is likely to renew interest in her work and in conversations about the pressures child performers can face after early fame.
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