Daveigh Chase had one of those careers that defined two completely different childhoods: the one where you’re crying over a blue alien and the one where you’re afraid to look at a TV screen for a week. With the recent news of her passing sparking a massive wave of nostalgia, it’s the right time to look at her filmography and figure out what’s a family-night staple and what’s a "watch with the lights on" solo mission for you.
TL;DR: Daveigh Chase’s legacy is a masterclass in range, anchored by her iconic voice work in Lilo & Stitch and the English dub of Spirited Away. For younger kids, those are the gold standard. If you have older teens or want a throwback horror night, her turn as Samara in The Ring remains legendary, while Donnie Darko is the ultimate moody cult classic for the high school crowd.
If your kid knows her name, it’s probably because of the 2002 Disney classic that broke the "perfect princess" mold. Chase gave Lilo Pelekai a voice that felt like a real kid—messy, grieving, weird, and fiercely loyal.
This isn't your standard fairy tale. It’s a story about a broken family trying to stay together in Hawaii, and Chase’s performance is the heart of it. If you’re watching this with your kids, focus on the "Ohana" theme—it’s one of the few Disney movies that treats sibling dynamics and social workers with actual gravity. It’s a top-tier pick on our best movies for kids list.
While Studio Ghibli is a world unto itself, Chase provided the English voice for Chihiro, the young girl trapped in a spirit realm. It’s a foundational piece of animation. If your kid is transitioning from standard Disney fare to something more complex and visually arresting, this is the bridge. It handles themes of identity and greed without talking down to the audience.
Around the same time she was voicing a Disney protagonist, Chase was also traumatizing an entire generation of adults as Samara Morgan. This is the "strictly for parents" (or very mature teens) side of the catalog.
You know the image: the long black hair, the well, the TV screen. Chase did the heavy lifting here, providing the jerky, unsettling movements and that haunting stare. It’s a psychological thriller that still holds up. For an intentional parent, the "when" on this is usually mid-to-late high school. It’s less about gore and more about a persistent, creeping dread.
Chase plays Samantha Darko, the younger sister of Jake Gyllenhaal’s title character. In the original film, she’s a minor but memorable part of a suburban family dealing with... well, time travel and giant rabbits. It’s a quintessential "smart teen" movie. If your kid is starting to lean into indie cinema or complex sci-fi, this is a rite of passage. Check out our digital guide for high schoolers for more moody picks like this.
By 2009, Chase moved from the background to the center of the frame in a sequel that many people missed but cult fans still debate.
Set seven years after the first film, Chase reprises her role as Samantha, who is now a runaway dealing with her own supernatural visions. It’s much more of a road-trip thriller than the original. It’s rated R, mostly for language and some intense sequences, so it’s not for the family van. But as a snapshot of Chase’s ability to carry a movie as a lead, it’s a fascinating piece of her history.
When a performer with such a specific kid-culture footprint passes away, it’s a natural opening to talk about how movies are made.
- The Craft of Voice Acting: Watch the behind-the-scenes clips of the Lilo & Stitch recording sessions. Seeing a young Daveigh Chase in the booth helps kids understand that Lilo isn't just a drawing—she’s a performance. It’s a great way to build media literacy.
- Range and Duality: Talk about how the same person can be the "hero" in one story and the "monster" in another. It’s a simple lesson in how actors use their tools (voice vs. movement) to tell different stories.
- Legacy and Grief: If your kids are fans of Lilo, they might have questions about why everyone is talking about her now. Keep it simple: she was a talented artist who helped create something they love, and people are saying thank you.
The biggest friction point in a Daveigh Chase marathon is the Samara of it all. If your kid is Googling "Lilo actress," they are going to see images from The Ring. Those images are objectively scary.
The pro-tip: If they see the scary Samara photos and get spooked, show them the footage of Daveigh Chase winning the MTV Movie Award for "Best Villain." Seeing her as a normal, smiling teenager in a dress accepting a trophy is the ultimate "it’s just pretend" antidote.
Q: Is Daveigh Chase the voice of Lilo in the TV show too?
Yes, she voiced Lilo in Lilo & Stitch: The Series and the various direct-to-video sequels. She stayed very consistent with that character for years, which is why that voice is so synonymous with the role.
Q: What age is Donnie Darko appropriate for?
It’s generally a 14+ movie. It deals with mental health, rebellion, and some pretty heavy existential dread. It’s a "thinker," not a "slasher," but the tone is definitely mature.
Q: Are there any other Daveigh Chase movies for younger kids?
Beyond the big two (Lilo and Spirited Away), she did a lot of TV guest spots, but her film work leaned more toward thrillers and dramas as she got older. If you want more of her voice work, look for her in the video game Let It Die, though that’s strictly for the adult gamers in the house.
Daveigh Chase was a rare talent who could pivot from the vulnerability of a lonely kid in Hawaii to the terrifying precision of a horror icon. For your family, her voice remains the gold standard for "weird and wonderful" kids everywhere. Start with the "Ohana" and save the well for later.
- Check out our best movies for kids list for more animation essentials.
- If your teen is into cult classics, browse the digital guide for high school.
- Ask our chatbot for more movies featuring great voice performances
