'The Ring' Actress Daveigh Chase's Cause of Death Revealed — Former Child Star Died Following Secret AIDS Battle at Age 35
Daveigh Chase's cause of death has been revealed to be AIDS.
June 29 2026, Published 3:10 p.m. ET
Former child star Daveigh Chase, known for her roles in The Ring and Lilo & Stitch, died from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, better known as AIDS, RadarOnline.com can report.
The 35-year-old died on June 16 after she was diagnosed with meningitis and several blood infections that turned her body septic and reportedly caused it to shut down.
Chase's Cause of Death
The former child star died earlier this month at age 35.
Chase made a name for herself as a child star in the early 2000s, with starring roles in Disney's Lilo & Stitch, Donnie Darko, The Ring, Spirited Away and HBO's Big Love.
According to a Los Angeles medical examiner's report, the actress, who also went by Daveigh Schwallier, also suffered from "chronic polysubstance use," which the Mayo Clinic describes as "using more than one substance and following a pattern of use that affects your health and quality of life."
Her father, John David Schwallier, told the New York Times that she had been homeless at the time and had struggled with drugs for several years. He also admitted he had not spoken with her since she was 19.
Chase's Health Deteriorated Quickly
Chase voiced the title female character in the Disney classic 'Lilo & Stitch'.
Chase's health reportedly deteriorated after she was admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles due to malnutrition, but she spent several years battling multiple personal demons, including an addiction to drugs.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Chase's mom, Cathy, revealed her daughter's addiction struggles began after a 2016 motorcycle accident, when doctors prescribed her painkillers.
"She was seeking drugs and was partying with the wrong people," she added. "I never kicked my daughter out. She wanted freedom and these people got her hooked on some drugs. That was the beginning."
The matriarch said she "tried desperately" to help Daveigh, but explained people "can't legally force someone who doesn't want that help."
She added that the drugs allegedly left the former child star struggling with her mental health.
Friends Tried to Set Her Straight
She had been acting professionally since the age of 7.
Friends tried to help her set her life straight. One pal, Shawn Rosenthal, told People, "She was an incredible singer, and we would play music together that, unfortunately, we never had a chance to record."
"I wound up getting clean in 2023, which is why I haven't seen her since then."
Rosenthal added, "Some of her sober friends and I were trying to find her and get her help, but to no avail. She was surrounding herself with the worst of the worst people. It's such a tragedy because no one cared for her best interests at all."
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Her boyfriend set up a GoFundMe for donations.
In one of several GoFundMe pages set up to support Daveigh's medical expenses before her death, her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, revealed that she had been diagnosed with meningitis and several serious blood infections.
"After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown LA," Hernandez wrote. "When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together, we found moments of happiness and hope."
He confessed: "Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left.
"All she ever wanted was a place where we could live together, feel safe, and be happy. Now, more than ever, I want to give her that sense of home and peace in her final days."
