Film & TV3 min(s) read
Published 10:46 30 Jun 2026 GMT
The father of former child star Daveigh Chase has said he was not shocked to learn that his daughter died from AIDS, claiming her years of addiction and homelessness made the diagnosis unsurprising.
Chase, best known for voicing Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch and starring in The Ring, died in a Los Angeles hospital on June 16 at the age of 35.
Earlier this week, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed her cause of death was AIDS.
The medical examiner also listed "chronic polysubstance use" as another significant condition contributing to her death.
Speaking to The New York Post, Chase's father, John Schwallier, said the findings did not come as a surprise to him.
"It doesn't surprise" him, Schwallier said, adding: "It is what it is."
He continued: "It's something you sometimes have to expect with the lifestyle she was living."
According to Schwallier, Chase's ashes were released to her mother, Cathy. He said he had not seen his daughter in person since she was around six years old, although the pair remained in contact by phone during her childhood.
He also revealed he is prepared to take legal action to obtain a portion of her cremated remains, saying he hopes to keep them in a handmade box at his home in the Philippines.
"I had an empty feeling inside for not being with her for all these years," he said.
In the years before her death, Chase reportedly struggled with addiction and homelessness, spending time living on Los Angeles' Skid Row.
Friends and her longtime manager allegedly made repeated attempts to persuade her to enter rehabilitation, but she reportedly declined treatment on those occasions.
Images taken just months before her death reportedly showed the actress looking severely underweight while living in a tent or trailer.
Chase rose to fame as a child, lending her voice to Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch. She also voiced Chihiro Ogino in the English-language version of the acclaimed animated film Spirited Away. Her final screen appearance came in the 2016 thriller American Romance, after which she largely disappeared from public life.
Following her death, a man identified as her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, launched a GoFundMe campaign, claiming Chase had been "bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown LA."
He wrote: "When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together we found moments of happiness and hope."
The fundraiser has collected more than $4,100 toward its $5,500 target.
However, Chase's longtime manager questioned Hernandez's connection to the actress, stating that "none of us friends or her family has heard of" him.
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entertainment news3 min(s) read
Published 08:52 18 Jun 2026 GMT
New details have emerged about the final months of actress Daveigh Chase's life following her death at the age of 35.
The former child star, best known for voicing Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and appearing in The Ring and Donnie Darko, was reportedly living on the streets of Downtown Los Angeles before her death on June 16.
According to a report by The New York Post, newly obtained footage allegedly showed Chase in a tent or trailer in the city's Skid Row area looking extremely frail and barely conscious.
Chase's longtime manager, John Ryan, said he had been searching for the actress alongside her stepsister, Gaia Brown, and a private investigator for months before learning about the video in late 2025.
Ryan claimed he was able to speak with Chase by phone shortly after seeing the footage but lost contact with her again before he could reach her.
Ryan told The New York Post that plans had been made to help Chase recover in Los Angeles before eventually moving her to a rehabilitation facility in Costa Rica owned by a friend.
“We were so close to finding her,” he told the outlet. “Daveigh was the sweetest and brightest light in Hollywood. I can’t believe this is real. Her legacy and work will live on forever.”
According to Ryan, Chase disappeared again before those plans could be put into action.
Shortly before Chase's death, a GoFundMe campaign was launched by a man identified as Roy Hernandez, who described himself as her boyfriend.
The campaign stated: “Daveigh Chase, my girlfriend, has always been a light in my life. Many people know her as a talented childhood actor from Lilo & Stitch, Spirited Away, and Donnie Darko. But behind the scenes, she’s faced more than her share of hardship.”
It continued: “After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown LA. When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together, we found moments of happiness and hope.”
However, Ryan disputed the campaign and alleged that the man behind it was not known to Chase's friends or family.
“Apparently, a man claiming to be her ‘boyfriend’ that none of us friends or her family has heard of has set up a GoFundMe on ‘her and her families behalf’ that he set her up as the organizer. I can confirm Daveigh has a trust account set up at SAG to cover all costs,” he told The New York Post.
Ryan also claimed that Chase had received “millions” in residuals from her work as a child actor, but said the money had gone unclaimed.
According to The New York Post, those funds would now pass to her next of kin. Ryan said that would be her father.
Chase died on June 16 after being diagnosed with meningitis and a blood infection that caused her body to become septic and eventually shut down. She was 35 years old.
TMZ also reported that the actress had been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital earlier this month due to malnutrition.
celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 09:28 18 Jun 2026 GMT
Almost a decade before her heartbreaking death aged 35, Daveigh Chase shared her eerie final post on Instagram.
In November 2017, the Lilo and Stitch voice actress posted a black-and-white picture of herself standing next to a chalkboard holding a unicorn balloon.
Chase posed in a black sheer top paired with distressed jeans, and captioned the image “Unicorns DO exist 😻”.
The Instagram post has surfaced now, almost nine years later, as fans flooded the comments with tributes after the news of her death broke on Wednesday.
One person wrote a heartfelt message saying, “RIP beautiful girl, you deserved so much better, thank you for the nostalgia, your special words & voice, that molded these characters to be something so memorable in our lives. You left an imprint on all our hearts. God bless you, soar with the angels 💔🕊️”.
Another fan added, “Rest peacefully in Paradise 🤍🪽”, while others shared images and GIFs from Chase’s best-known movie roles.
According to Roy Hernandez - who says he was Chase’s boyfriend - the beloved actress died on Tuesday, June 16, following meningitis and a blood infection, which led to sepsis.
Earlier this month, TMZ reported that Chase had been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital for malnutrition.
Hernandez called Chase, “a light in [his] life” and revealed on a GoFundMe page set up shortly before her death that “behind the scenes, she’s faced more than her share of hardship.”
On the fundraising page, he wrote, “After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown LA.
“When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together, we found moments of happiness and hope.”
In the days before her death, he provided a tragic update on her health, explaining on GoFundMe, “Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left.
“All she ever wanted was a place where we could live together, feel safe, and be happy. Now, more than ever, I want to give her that sense of home and peace in her final days.”
However, Chase's long-term manager, John Ryan, who had allegedly been searching for the actress after seeing a video of her looking frail on Skid Row, disputed the campaign and claimed that Hernandez is not known to Chase's friends or family.
Ryan told The New York Post: “Apparently, a man claiming to be her ‘boyfriend’ that none of us friends or her family has heard of has set up a GoFundMe on ‘her and her family's behalf’ that he set her up as the organizer. I can confirm Daveigh has a trust account set up at SAG to cover all costs,” he told The New York Post.
celebrity4 min(s) read
Published 09:22 20 Aug 2025 GMT
Lilo & Stitch actor David Hekili Kenui Bell’s cause of death has been revealed.
The 46-year-old actor tragically died just weeks after he made his big screen debut in Disney's live-action movie, which was released on May 23.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed in a lengthy Facebook post by Bell's sister, Jalene Kanani, who shared a deeply personal and lengthy post honoring her brother’s life.
"I’ve been waiting for the words and mindset to properly express the joy of a human, and Prince of a Man he was, but fate pushed my hand this morning by a pre-scheduled Father’s Day newsletter honoring the men in our lives," she wrote.
The bereaved sister opened up about her late brother's love of acting, saying: "David loved being an actor, doing voiceovers, spending time with Brutus, traveling as an ambassador for Kona Brew. The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him, and I loved that he enjoyed the arts."
Kanani also revealed how much his heritage contributed to his talent, saying he moved to Hawaii, where his “ability to deliver lines with English understanding, Indigenous knowledge, and Pidgen to da max…made him a diamond in the rough.”
She then spoke about his role in Lilo & Stitch and how the family went to watch the film together on opening night, and were "so energized by the fans dressed in L&S gear head to toe, t-shirts, onezees, hats, mask, and the merch galore flying off the shelf as we stood in line for pop-corn".
She ended her tribute poster with a reminder to cherish time with loved ones before it's too late: "Hug your loved ones today… our last time together after returning home from the movie was just sitting on my living room couch talking story about life, having a seltzer, and doing a little genealogy.
"Blessed by this and all the big and small moments, I will keep our memories alive," she added.
An autopsy was reportedly issued by the Hawaii Police Department a week after Bell’s passing, though the results weren't completed until July 10.
According to PEOPLE, the report lists four "pathological diagnoses" among its findings: acute respiratory failure, sepsis, hypertensive/atherosclerotic heart disease, and morbid obesity.
Per Mayo Clinic, Atherosclerosis is the "buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls," also known as plaque, which can "cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow" or burst, "leading to a blood clot".
The autopsy also confirmed that medical resuscitation efforts had been made, as indicated by the presence of defibrillator (AED) pads on Bell’s chest, an airway inserted into his mouth, a blood pressure cuff on his right arm, an IV line in his left arm, and an intraosseous needle in his left lower leg.
As reported by the NIH, the intraosseous needle is used for delivering fluids, medications, or obtaining lab samples when intravenous access is not possible.
Further findings disclosed that Bell had stasis dermatitis (a skin condition linked to poor circulation in the legs) and edema (swelling in the lower limbs due to fluid retention).
In addition to this, the toxicology report revealed no drugs or alcohol in Bell’s system above detectable levels. The report also noted that Bell "complained of difficulty breathing" before his death.
A funeral service for Bell, who appeared in the remakes of the Hawaii-set shows Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., was held on August 9 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea.
Our thoughts continue to be with his friends and family.
entertainment news3 min(s) read
Published 08:49 17 Jun 2025 GMT
David Hekili Kenui Bell, best known for starring in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, has sadly passed away weeks after the movie's release.
According to TMZ, the 46-year-old actor reportedly died on June 12, with the cause of death not yet revealed.
"We have launched a coroner’s inquest investigation (as is standard practice) and an autopsy is being scheduled to determine the exact cause of death," a police spokesperson said, PEOPLE reported. "The investigation is ongoing at this time. No foul play is suspected."
The devastating news was confirmed in a lengthy Facebook post by the 46-year-old's sister, Jalene Kanani, who shared a deeply personal and lengthy post honoring her brother’s life, calling him her “sweet, generous, talented, funny, brilliant, and handsome” sibling.
"I’ve been waiting for the words and mindset to properly express the joy of a human, and Prince of a Man he was, but fate pushed my hand this morning by a pre-scheduled Father’s Day newsletter honoring the men in our lives," she penned.
Jalene went on to talk about her beloved brother's love of acting, saying: "David loved being an actor, doing voiceovers, spending time with Brutus, traveling as an ambassador for Kona Brew. The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him, and I loved that he enjoyed the arts."
Kanani also revealed how much his unique heritage contributed to his talent, saying he moved to Hawaii, where his “ability to deliver lines with English understanding, Indigenous knowledge, and Pidgen to da max…made him a diamond in the rough.”
She then spoke about his role in Lilo & Stitch and how the family went to watch the film together on opening night.
"We talked about and were so energized by the fans dressed in L&S gear head to toe, t-shirts, onezees, hats, mask, and the merch galore flying off the shelf as we stood in line for pop-corn," she said.
She concluded her tribute with a tender reminder to cherish time with loved ones: "Hug your loved ones today…our last time together after returning home from the movie was just sitting on my living room couch talking story about life, having a seltzer, and doing a little genealogy.
"Blessed by this and all the big and small moments, I will keep our memories alive," she added.
In addition to his role on Lilo & Stitch, Bell made appearances in Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-O, per his IMDb.
He was also set to appear in the film The Wrecking Crew, which is currently in post-production.
The live-action Lilo & Stitch has officially dethroned 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, becoming the biggest Memorial Day weekend release in U.S. history.
According to Variety, the nostalgic reboot pulled in a staggering $341 million globally, locking in the second-highest opening of 2025, right behind A Minecraft Movie.
celebrity4 min(s) read
Published 17:52 06 Dec 2022 GMT
The daughter of David Robinson - a series regular on the show Dog the Bounty Hunter - has claimed that she was barred from attending her father's funeral.
As reported by TMZ, the 50-year-old's death was confirmed by his ex-wife, Rainy, who told the outlet that the 50-year-old was attending a Zoom call on Wednesday (November 30) when he had a medical emergency.
She revealed that medics were called and administered CPR but were unable to revive him. The outlet speculated that the medical emergency could have been related to a heart attack - although this has not yet been confirmed.
Following his passing, his daughter - 37-year-old Mercedes Robinson Sutton - is now accusing his wife Brooke Robinson, 46, of "robbing her" of a final moment with the man who raised her.
According to Daily Mail, the reality TV star's family experienced a breakdown in the last 18 months of his life due to problems his daughter claimed were caused by his second wife Brooke.
Robinson's daughter has said that his wife went out of her way to remove them from her father's life, and has now banned their mother Rainy - Robinson's ex-wife of 28 years - from his funeral after she announced his death on Facebook.
Mercedes, who is a mother of three and lives in Washington State, is not Robinson's biological daughter but was adopted by him after he married her mother in 1995.
She told the outlet his wife was angry with her while Robinson was laying dead on the floor in their California home. Mercedes said she had asked Brooke to place her phone next to her father's ear so she could bid farewell - but was refused.
"When I talked to her as she was lying next to his dead body, I cried and I asked her to FaceTime me so I could see him, she said: 'no, I'm not going to do that to you.' I said OK and asked her for a picture, she said: 'no, I'm not going to do that to you,'" Mercedes revealed.
The mother-of-three alleged that she also asked for a picture of Robinson's hands but "never got it." She called Brooke an hour later so that she could say her final words to her father.
"I asked her to put the phone up to his ear so I could say some things, she said: 'I can't do this, I can't do this.' and hung up the phone. I never got to see my dad - I knew he was going to be cremated," Mercedes said.
Mercedes expressed her sadness as her father was going to be sent to a morgue to be cremated and said that his wife "robbed" her of having a "last chance" of seeing him.
To add insult to injury, Brooke - outraged after the Facebook announcement - then called Mercedes to say that she was restricting her mother from the funeral and insisted that she takes the post down.
"She called me two more times the day he died to call my mom to tell her to take things down from social media because she wasn't ready to announce it yet and people were calling her because of my mom," she said.
"Asking my mom to do X, Y, and Z and then [telling] my mom she's not welcome at the funeral after what she did. She wanted me to tell my mom that on the day her husband died. Not graceful, not respectful, and extremely self-centered," she continued.
Brooke later released her own statement via TMZ, revealing that her husband "died in my arms".
Mercedes said that while she didn't communicate with her father during the last few months of his life, she always thought that she would reconcile with him one day.
She explained that she has been left heartbroken by his death and is infuriated because of the role her stepmother played in keeping them apart.
Nevertheless, Mercedes revealed to the outlet that she is now planning a separate memorial service for her father that her mother will be able to attend.
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