Actress Debbi Chase Dies of AIDS Weeks After Passing at 35

Debbi Chase, known for voicing Lilo in "Lilo & Stitch" and starring in the cult horror film "The Ring," died from AIDS at age 35, Los Angeles authorities revealed about two weeks after her death. They noted chronic use of multiple drugs as a contributing factor. Chase's father, John David Chevalier, told The New York Times that she had been homeless and struggled with drug addiction since age 13, and that they had been estranged for many years.

Before her death, Chase's partner posted on GoFundMe that she was battling meningitis and severe blood infections. TMZ reported that she had been hospitalized in early June due to malnutrition. Her partner wrote that her condition deteriorated rapidly and doctors believed she had little time left, expressing a wish to provide her with a safe and peaceful home in her final days.

Born in 1990, Chase began her career as a child voice actress in films like "The Wild Thornberrys" and "Lilo & Stitch," where she voiced the character Lilo. She also appeared in cult hits such as "Donnie Darko" (2001), playing the protagonist's sister, and portrayed the terrifying Samara Morgan in "The Ring," a role that earned her the MTV Award for Best Villain. Chase also guest-starred in TV shows including "Charmed," "The Defenders," and "ER." Her last screen role was in the 2016 thriller "American Romance," after which she retired due to personal and legal difficulties.