Family Challenges Boyfriend’s Claims After ‘The Ring’ Star Dies at 35

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Daveigh Chase, the former child actress who starred in “The Ring” and voiced Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” has died at the age of 35. According to NBC News , Chase died Tuesday in Los Angeles. Her father, John…

Daveigh Chase, the former child actress who starred in “The Ring” and voiced Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” has died at the age of 35.

According to NBC News, Chase died Tuesday in Los Angeles. Her father, John Schwallier, said in a text message to the outlet that she died from complications related to bacterial meningitis and a blood infection. He also said she had been suffering from severe malnutrition.

News of Chase’s Death follows conflicting public statements about her final days and a crowdfunding campaign that appeared online before reports of her passing.

Her former manager, John Ryan Jr., challenged claims made in the fundraiser, telling Deadline that Chase’s estate had sufficient resources to cover funeral expenses.

“Daveigh’s estate has plenty of means to pay for the cremation,” Ryan said. “John is next of kin and never signed any paperwork over to this so-called boyfriend.”

Ryan also disputed statements made by Roy Hernandez, who identified himself as Chase’s boyfriend and had launched the GoFundMe campaign.

“This man making these claims brought her into the hospital in terrible condition and didn’t let any of the family know until she passed so he can control the dialogue,” Ryan said. “Daveigh’s actual family is handling all arrangements. We have contacted GoFundMe to let them know this man started this page on his own under Daveigh’s name when she was already unresponsive and urging people to report the page and not donate.”

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Born in Las Vegas, Chase began performing at a young age, first appearing in a Campbell’s Soup commercial before launching a successful acting career.

She became a household name in 2002 after voicing Lilo in Disney’s animated hit “Lilo & Stitch.” Chase continued the role in more than 60 episodes of “Lilo & Stitch: The Series” and reprised the character in several video games and other franchise projects.

Daveigh Chase during Coca-Cola at the Silver Spoon Hollywood Buffet – Day Two at Private Estate in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Mike Guastella/WireImage for Silver Spoon (formerly The Cabana))

That same year, she gained another generation of fans with her chilling portrayal of Samara in the horror film “The Ring.”

Her performance earned widespread recognition, and in 2003 she won the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. Chase took home the honor over nominees including Mike Myers, Colin Farrell, Willem Dafoe, and Daniel Day-Lewis.

Her work in family entertainment and horror made her one of the most recognizable young performers of the early 2000s, with two iconic roles that continue to resonate with audiences today.

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