LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Former child actor Daveigh Chase’s was due to AIDS, the office of the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner reported.
The cause of death for Chase, 35, was acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, according to online medical examiner records from this week that listed her last name as Schwallier. 鈥淐hronic polysubstance abuse鈥� was listed under 鈥渙ther significant conditions.鈥�
Chase was known for voicing the lead role of Lilo in Disney’s 鈥淟ilo & Stitch鈥� and her performance in the 2002 horror film 鈥淭he Ring.鈥�
After her death in a Los Angeles hospital, her father John David Schwallier, confirmed to that she died from complications of bacterial meningitis and a blood infection. She was homeless in Los Angeles with her boyfriend, he said.
Chase struggled with drugs since she was 13 years old, Schwallier told the Times. He said his daughter was estranged from her parents, who are divorced.
In a text message to The Associated Press on Tuesday about AIDS being the cause of death, her father said, 鈥淚 know with her lifestyle that was probably the conclusion so I’m not surprised.鈥�
Calling her death tragic, he added, 鈥淚t 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.鈥�
Chase auditioned for Lilo at age 8. For her role as the long-haired Samara in 鈥淭he Ring,鈥� she won an MTV Movie Award for best villain.
Chase also voiced another lead in the 2001 animated film 鈥淪pirited Away.鈥� She had roles in the 2001 movie 鈥淒onnie Darko鈥� and the 2003 show 鈥淥liver Beene,鈥� according to her profile page on the internet movie database .
She was born in Las Vegas and raised in the small town of Albany, Oregon. She began singing and dancing at age 3, according to IMDb.
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