Daveigh Chase‘s father says the late actress remains “constantly” on his mind as he celebrates what would have been her 36th birthday. John Schwallier reflected on his daughter’s life about a year after the former child star died at age 35. While the years before Chase’s death were marked by estrangement, addiction and homelessness, her father said he continued to think about her every day. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed acquired immune deficiency syndrome as the cause of Chase’s death, with chronic polysubstance use identified as a significant contributing condition.
Schwallier contacted the Daily Mail to acknowledge that his daughter would have turned 36 on Friday July 24. “Every day I think about her constantly,” he said.
Chase’s father also lamented how few personal photographs he has of the actress after years of estrangement. “The saddest thing is, these are the only photos I have of [Daveigh] This is what I printed on the Internet, since her mother kept me away from her,” he claimed. Chase’s mother, Cathy Chase, has not responded to this allegation.
Despite the family conflict surrounding his daughter’s final years, Schwallier wanted to keep his message focused on Chase. “She was taken from this life way too soon,” he said. “I just want to wish him a happy birthday today and [tell her] that she is on my mind every day.
John Schwallier tells his last words to his daughter
Schwallier was in Las Vegas on June 16, 2025 when he received a call informing him that Chase was experiencing a medical emergency. Roy Hernandez, a man who identified himself as Chase’s boyfriend, allegedly told her that the actress was losing consciousness. Hernandez allegedly put the phone on speaker so Schwallier could speak to his daughter.
“I just told him I loved him and I was looking for you. I told him, ‘I have a place to take you if you get out of the hospital,'” Schwallier recalled. “I said, ‘I’m coming, I’ll be there in three or four hours.’ I arrived at the hospital in about two and a half hours.
When Schwallier arrived at the Los Angeles hospital, he said he was devastated by his daughter’s physical condition. “She must have weighed 65 pounds and looked even worse than this video going around,” he claimed. “I touched his thigh above his knee, and it was just bone.”
His father hopes the tragedy will raise awareness
Although Schwallier remains devastated by his daughter’s death, he hopes the medical examiner’s findings can encourage greater awareness of HIV and AIDS. He previously admitted he was not surprised when he learned of the official case. “I’m not surprised,” he said softly.
Schwallier said Chase became so emaciated that he initially had trouble believing the woman at the hospital was his daughter. “I was beside myself at first when I finally saw her,” he recalls. “At first I thought they were pushing me.” “I didn’t think she was my daughter.”
AIDS-related deaths have declined significantly worldwide since their peak in the early 2000s. However, the documentation provided indicates that some countries and regions have experienced an increase in HIV infections or deaths from AIDS in recent years.
Daveigh Chase’s mother also spent years searching
Cathy told her own story of desperately searching for her daughter after losing contact. She said she regularly checks Google and Reddit for any indication of where Chase might be. Cathy and her youngest son also reportedly drove through parts of Los Angeles and visited homeless encampments while following possible leads.
“It upsets me because people say I must have been a bad mother, but I never gave up on her,” Cathy said. “As a mother, you don’t abandon your child. I was hoping she would still come home.”
Cathy believes Chase’s addiction issues began after a motorcycle accident around 2016. The actress reportedly injured her back and was prescribed painkillers. “She was looking for drugs and partying with the wrong people. I never kicked my daughter out. She wanted freedom and these people got her addicted to certain drugs. That was the beginning,” Cathy said.
‘The Ring’ star became a Hollywood child prodigy
Chase began appearing in commercials at the age of 3 before going on to major film and television roles. Her big break came in 2002 when she played Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch.” His performance earned him a Young Artist Award for Best Voiceover in the Pre-Teen Category. Chase later reprized the role in “Stitch! The Movie” and the animated television series.
She also became recognizable for playing Samara in “The Ring” alongside Naomi Watts. Her terrifying performance as the long-haired girl behind the cursed videotape earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in 2003. Chase also appeared in “Donnie Darko” and later played Rhonda Volmer in 32 episodes of HBO’s “Big Love.”