Daveigh Chase sadly passed away on June 16 at the age of 35. She was best known for her roles in Lilo & Stitch and The Ring. Now, just a few weeks later, we've finally learned what was behind her death. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has listed the cause of her death as AIDS.
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"'Chronic polysubstance use' was also listed under 'other significant conditions,' leading to her death," The New York Post reports.
When speaking to The California Post, Daveigh's father, John Schwallier, admitted that the cause of his daughter's death didn't come as a surprise. "It is what it is," John said. "It's something you sometimes have to expect with the lifestyle she was living."
Daveigh has battled addiction for multiple years. She also struggled with homelessness and was known to reside on the infamous Skid Row in Los Angeles.
"Chase's manager and friends had allegedly tried to get her off the streets for years and get her checked into a rehab, but she refused," The New York Post reported.
Daveigh Chase Had 51 Acting Credits to Her Name
Daveigh began her on-screen acting career in 1998. Her first role came on the hit TV Series, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Daveigh appeared in one episode of the cult classic show. In 2000, Daveigh showed up on another witchy TV Series, playing a young Christina Larson on Charmed.
However, it was in 2001 when Daveigh got her first big break, playing Samantha Darko in the critically acclaimed Donnie Darko movie. After that, she went back to making cameo appearances in multiple big-time shows, including Touched By An Angel, later in 2001.
In 2003, Daveigh landed a recurring role in Oliver Beene, where she played Joyce for 23 total episodes. Three years later, she voiced Lilo in Leroy & Stitch, the video. Daveigh followed that up by voicing Lilo in 63 episodes of Lilo & Stitch: The Series. That show ran between 2003 and 2006.
Daveigh also landed a recurring role in Big Love between 2006 and 2011. Her last on-screen appearance came in 2016, when she played Kirssy Madison in American Romance.
She will certainly be missed.
