Daveigh Chase expressed hopes for the legacy she wanted to leave behind years before her death at the age of 35, reflecting on her ambitions in a rare early career interview. Chase told Interview magazine in 2009 that her goal was to create work that would have a lasting emotional impact on audiences.
Chase's 2009 Interview Reflection
“I just want to make something that I love and people will respect,” the Lilo & Stitch voice actress said. “I want to do things that will change someone’s life, not something they’ll forget about tomorrow.”
Chase also spoke about how her path into Hollywood began unexpectedly after her mother was injured in a car accident in 1998, which left her unable to drive for several months. The situation led the family to remain in Los Angeles rather than return to Oregon, where Chase began pursuing acting at the age of eight.
Career Highlights
She went on to build a career that included several high-profile roles, including voicing Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, Chihiro in the English-language version of Spirited Away, and portraying Samara Morgan in The Ring. She also appeared in films such as Donnie Darko and the HBO series Big Love.
Death and Aftermath
Chase died on Tuesday at the age of 35, TMZ reported, with her boyfriend Roy Hernandez confirming her death. Reports cited meningitis followed by sepsis as the cause after she had recently been hospitalised for malnutrition.
Following news of her death, attention also turned to a GoFundMe campaign reportedly set up in her name, which was later questioned by her former manager, John Ryan, who said Chase’s family and friends were not familiar with the organiser and confirmed she had access to a SAG trust account for expenses.
Final Years and Social Media
In her final years, clips shared on social media resurfaced, including footage circulated in late 2025 showing her in poor health, prompting concern among fans and renewed reflection on her earlier statements about wanting her work to have lasting meaning.
