LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Former child actor Daveigh Chase, known for her youthful voice in Disney’s 鈥淟ilo & Stitch鈥� and her villainous performance in the thriller 鈥淭he Ring,” has died. She was 35.
Chase’s father, John David Schwallier, confirmed to she died from complications of bacterial meningitis and a blood infection. She had been homeless in Los Angeles with her boyfriend near the hospital where she died, he told the newspaper.
first reported Wednesday that Chase died Tuesday.
She voiced the lead role of Lilo in the 2002 animated film, a role she auditioned for at age 8. Years later, a Hawaiian actress was cast as Lilo for the live-action remake.
For her role as long-haired Samara in the 2002 horror film, Chase won an MTV movie award for best villain.
Chase also voiced another lead in the 2001 animated film 鈥淪pirited Away.鈥� She had roles in the 2001 movie 鈥淒onnie Darko鈥� and the 2003 show 鈥淥liver Beene,鈥� according to internet movie database .
She was born in Las Vegas and raised in Albany, Oregon. In her small hometown, she began singing and dancing at age 3, according to IMDb.
Chase struggled with drugs since she was 13 years old, Schwallier said in an interview with the Times. He said his daughter was estranged from her parents, who are divorced.
Schwallier said he was in touch with Chase’s boyfriend, and just before she died, arrived at the Los Angeles hospital where she was being treated.
An online fundraiser by her boyfriend raised about $4,000 as of Thursday. 鈥淢any people know her as a talented childhood actor from 鈥楲ilo & Stitch,鈥� 鈥楽pirited Away,鈥� and 鈥楧onnie Darko,'” the fundraiser post said. 鈥淏ut behind the scenes, she鈥檚 faced more than her share of hardship.鈥�
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