Fans across the internet are revisiting Daveigh Chase’s last photo following news of the former child star’s death at age 35. The black-and-white image, quietly posted nearly a decade ago, has suddenly become one of the most searched and shared pictures of the actress’s life — a final, bittersweet snapshot frozen in time.
Here’s everything currently known about Daveigh Chase’s last photo, the story behind it, and the circumstances surrounding her passing.
What Was Daveigh Chase’s Last Photo?
Daveigh Chase’s final public Instagram post was shared on November 19, 2017. The black-and-white photograph shows the actress standing beside a unicorn-shaped mylar balloon near a sidewalk sign on a sunny day. She’s pictured wearing a black sheer top, distressed black jeans, sunglasses, and a long necklace, captioned with the words “Unicorns DO exist.”
At the time, it was simply another casual update from a former Hollywood star. No one could have known it would end up being her last public post on the platform. Nearly eight years later, that same image is being shared widely as fans pay tribute to her life and legacy.
Why Is the Photo Going Viral Now?
The image resurfaced after reports confirmed that Daveigh Chase died on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, told TMZ that she passed away from meningitis and a blood infection that led to sepsis and ultimately organ failure. She had reportedly been hospitalized earlier in the month due to malnutrition.
Following the news, fans flooded the comments section of her last photo with tributes. Messages included “RIP and thank you,” “Rest peacefully in Paradise,” and “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.”
Who Was Daveigh Chase?
Born Daveigh Elizabeth Chase on July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas and raised in Albany, Oregon, Chase began acting at around age 7, appearing in commercials and stage productions before breaking into film and television.
She became a household name through several major roles:
Lilo & Stitch (2002) — She voiced Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s beloved animated film and its television follow-up.
The Ring (2002) — She played the chilling antagonist Samara Morgan, a role that earned her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Spirited Away — She voiced Chihiro Ogino in the acclaimed English-language dub of the Studio Ghibli classic.
Big Love — Beginning in 2006, she held a recurring role on the HBO drama series.
What Happened in Daveigh Chase’s Final Years?
In the years following her last photo, Chase largely withdrew from the public eye and from social media. According to her father, John Schwallier, she had struggled with drug addiction dating back to age 13. Her former manager, John Ryan, has said that in the final decade of her life she experienced periods of homelessness, including time spent in Los Angeles’s Skid Row, one of the largest unsheltered homeless communities in the United States.
A video reportedly showing a noticeably thin and unwell Chase on Skid Row circulated briefly online in late 2025. Ryan has said he attempted to reach her and arrange treatment, including a plan to send her to a rehabilitation facility, but was unable to locate her before her health declined further.
The GoFundMe Controversy
Shortly before Chase’s death, her boyfriend Roy Hernandez launched a GoFundMe campaign describing her as “a light in his life” and detailing her declining health, asking for support to give her “a sense of home and peace in her final days.” The campaign has since raised several thousand dollars.
However, Chase’s former manager, John Ryan, has publicly disputed the legitimacy of the fundraiser, stating that Chase had a trust account set up through SAG-AFTRA that he says could cover all related costs, and insisting there were “no medical bills to be paid or funeral expenses.” Hernandez has maintained to TMZ that the campaign is “100 percent” legitimate.
Fans Continue to Honor Her Memory
Despite the swirling controversy around her final months, Daveigh Chase’s last photo remains, for many fans, a gentler way to remember her — a simple, sunny moment captured years before tragedy struck. Tributes continue to pour in across social media, with many crediting her work in Lilo & Stitch and The Ring for shaping their childhoods.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Daveigh Chase’s last photo posted? Her final public Instagram post was shared on November 19, 2017.
How did Daveigh Chase die? She died on June 16, 2026, from complications of meningitis and a blood infection that led to sepsis, according to her boyfriend Roy Hernandez.
How old was Daveigh Chase when she died? She was 35 years old.
What was Daveigh Chase best known for? She was best known for voicing Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, playing Samara Morgan in The Ring, and voicing Chihiro in the English dub of Spirited Away.
Was Daveigh Chase homeless before her death? According to her former manager and father, she experienced periods of homelessness and addiction in the years before her death, including time in Los Angeles’s Skid Row area.
Did Daveigh Chase delete her Instagram? No, her account remained active but inactive after November 2017, with no further public posts shared.
Daveigh Chase’s last photo has become an unexpected symbol of remembrance — what do you think of the way fans are honoring her memory? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for the latest updates on this developing story.