Tribute to Skid Row Star Davey Chase
The directors of the beloved animated movie Lilo & Stitch have honored Davey Chase, a star from Skid Row, who faced drug addiction and homelessness before her untimely death this week. It’s just really sad, you know?
Chris Sanders and co-director Dean DeBlois shared a heartfelt illustration on Instagram, depicting Lilo, the character originally voiced by Chase, crying as she feeds Pudge the fish a peanut butter sandwich. There was something poignant about that image, reflecting a deeper connection to both the character and Chase’s struggles.
In the 2002 film, Lilo’s act of kindness occurs during a tough time in her life as she copes with her parents’ passing. The illustration, lacking a caption, was signed by both directors and seems to be their first public acknowledgment of Chase’s death.
Finding Lilo’s voice had been a challenge, but everything changed when Chase auditioned. “It was a tough voice to cast… and then one day this girl came along,” Sanders recalled. “When she got in front of the microphone, Dean and I just knew instantly—she was perfect.”
Tragically, Chase struggled with addiction and passed away at just 35 years old on June 16. A video surfaced months prior, showing her in a precarious state in a Skid Row tent, and friends noted her alarming weight loss during their encounters.
In a heartbreaking detail, Chase weighed only 75 pounds during a hospital visit just days before her passing. Her manager, John Ryan, had been trying to find her but couldn’t reach her in time. “We were so close,” he said, reflecting on her radiant spirit. “It’s hard to grasp that this is real. Her work and legacy will always remain.”
Chase rose to fame through Lilo & Stitch, which not only had a successful animated run but also inspired a series and a live-action remake released in 2025. She was also known for her role as Samara Morgan in the 2002 horror film The Ring and for her part in the HBO series Big Love.
Her last appearances on screen were in 2016, featuring in the thriller American Romance and the psychological horror movie Jack Goes Home.
