American actress Daveigh Chase died from Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the medical examiner listed AIDS as the primary cause of her death, with "chronic polysubstance use and other significant conditions" noted as contributing factors.
Her manner of death was ruled "natural."
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According to the Mayo Clinic, AIDS is the most advanced and final stage of infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
It occurs when the virus has severely weakened the body's immune system, making it vulnerable to life-threatening infections and certain cancers.
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While chronic polysubstance use (formerly polysubstance abuse) refers to the "use of more than one drug or substance at the same time or within a short period of time."
DAVEIGH'S DEATH
Daveigh passed away on June 16 at the age of 35.
Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, first revealed to American entertainment outlet TMZ that the actress had suffered from meningitis and a blood infection, "which caused her to have septic issues," ultimately leading to her death.
Read: The Ring and Lilo & Stitch actress Daveigh Chase dies at 35
He also said she had been hospitalized in Los Angeles earlier this month after suffering from malnutrition.
Meanwhile, Daveigh's father, John David Schwallier, told The New York Times that she had been homeless and living in Los Angeles with her boyfriend before her death.
DAVEIGH'S ACTING CAREER
Daveigh rose to fame in 2002 after voicing the spirited young Hawaiian girl Lilo Pelekai in Disney's animated hit Lilo & Stitch.
She later reprised the role in several sequels and the television series—Stitch! The Movie (2003), Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003), and Leroy & Stitch (2006) earned widespread praise for her voice performance.
But before that, she voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English-language dub of the acclaimed Japanese animated film Spirited Away in 2001.
Aside from voice acting, Daveigh became one of horror's most recognizable young stars after portraying the terrifying Samara Morgan—the long-haired ghost who crawls out of a television—in The Ring (2002).
Her performance earned her the 2023 MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
She also appeared in films such as Donnie Darko (2001) and S. Darko (2009).
On television, Daveigh had a recurring role as child bride Rhonda Volmer in HBO's drama series Big Love, appearing in 32 episodes.