LOS ANGELES — Former child actor Daveigh Chase died from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) on June 16, according to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.
Medical examiner records released this week listed AIDS as the cause of death of Chase, 35, whose legal surname was Schwallier. The records also identified chronic polysubstance abuse as another significant condition.
Following her death at a Los Angeles hospital, her father, John David Schwallier, told The New York Times that she died from complications of bacterial meningitis and a blood infection. He said she had been homeless in Los Angeles with her boyfriend.
Schwallier told the newspaper that Chase had struggled with drug use since she was 13 years old and had become estranged from her divorced parents.
In a text message to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Schwallier said he was not surprised by the medical examiner’s findings.
“I know with her lifestyle that was probably the conclusion so I’m not surprised,” he said.
He also described his daughter’s death as tragic, adding, “It would’ve been nice for all of you to find her and try and help her that would’ve been a nicer story than this.”
Chase gained recognition as the voice of Lilo in Lilo & Stitch after auditioning for the role at age 8. She also portrayed Samara in The Ring, earning an MTV Movie Award for best villain.
She also voiced a lead character in Spirited Away and appeared in Donnie Darko and the television series Oliver Beene, according to IMDb.
Chase was born in Las Vegas and grew up in Albany. According to IMDb, she began singing and dancing at age 3.
