Actress Daveigh Chase, remembered for playing Samara in The Ring and voicing Lilo in Lilo & Stitch, died on June 16 at age 35. According to People, a Los Angeles medical examiner’s report listed her cause of death as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. The report also noted chronic polysubstance use as another significant condition. Chase died in a hospital, and the manner of death was ruled natural. The news brings fresh attention to a career that began early and to the difficult period that followed after she stepped away from Hollywood.
Daveigh Chase Medical Report Lists AIDS
The medical examiner’s findings offer the clearest official account so far of what happened. Along with AIDS, the report cited chronic polysubstance use, a term used when more than one substance is involved in a pattern that harms health and daily life. The actress had been hospitalized before her death. Earlier reports from people close to her had pointed to severe illness, including meningitis and blood infections. With the official filing now public, the circumstances around her death are more fully documented, ending days of uncertainty after news of her passing first emerged.
Daveigh Chase Faced Health and Addiction Struggles
Chase’s final years were marked by major personal challenges. As reported by People, she struggled with serious drug addiction and had been living on Los Angeles’ Skid Row. After a successful run as a child performer, she gradually withdrew from public life, with her last red carpet appearance taking place in 2013. Her story drew renewed attention after her death because of the sharp contrast between her early fame and the hardship she later faced. The latest report adds another layer to that timeline, linking long-term health issues with the addiction battle described by those around her.
GoFundMe Dispute Added Tension After Her Death
Questions also surfaced over a fundraiser launched while Chase was still receiving treatment. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, had shared updates about her condition and said doctors believed she had little time left. After she died, former manager and longtime friend John Ryan publicly urged fans not to contribute, arguing that her estate could cover cremation costs. He also disputed Hernandez’s role in handling arrangements and communication with family members. That disagreement became part of the public conversation in the days after her death, adding confusion to an already painful situation for those close to the actress.
Friends Remember a Talented Actress and Singer
Beyond the headlines, friends have spoken about Chase’s talent and the life she might have had under different circumstances. "It's such a tragedy," her friend Shawn Rosenthal said according to People. He also described her as an incredible singer and said some sober friends had tried to locate her and help her. Rosenthal added that he had not seen her since getting clean in 2023. For many fans, Chase remains tied to memorable performances from her youth, but those who knew her personally have painted a fuller picture of a gifted artist whose later years were deeply troubled.
