Daveigh Chase, the actress best known for voicing the character Lilo in the 2002 animated film *Lilo & Stitch*, has died at the age of 35. Chase’s passing was announced following a period during which she struggled with drug addiction and homelessness on Los Angeles’ Skid Row.

Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the film’s co-directors, paid tribute to Chase on social media by posting an illustration of Lilo feeding the character Pudge, a fish from the film, a peanut butter sandwich—a poignant reference to a memorable scene where Lilo uses the act as a coping mechanism for the loss of her parents. The artwork, shared without a caption but signed by both directors, marked their first public acknowledgment of Chase’s death.

Sanders and DeBlois recalled the challenges they faced casting the voice of Lilo, describing it as a difficult role to fill. In a 2022 interview with Hawaii Public Radio, Sanders said that upon hearing Chase audition, both directors immediately recognized they had found the perfect voice for the character. “She sat at the microphone, and she started doing her thing. Dean and I looked at each other, and we knew we had found her,” Sanders said.

Chase’s death highlights ongoing concerns about the struggles some performers face beyond the spotlight, including issues related to addiction and housing instability. The details surrounding her passing have underscored the vulnerability of individuals who fall out of the public eye after early success in the entertainment industry.

While the directors’ tribute focused on the uplifting impact of Chase’s performance in *Lilo & Stitch*, the circumstances of her final years have drawn attention to the need for greater support and resources for those battling addiction and homelessness.