Daveigh Chase’s father says her death from AIDS was not a surprise, according to a statement reported Tuesday

Actress and voice actor Daveigh Chase, widely known for voicing Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” died this week, according to reporting published by the New York Post on June 29 and updated early June 30. The newspaper reported that Chase’s father said her cause of death was AIDS and that the information was not unexpected to him, describing the death as something he had anticipated based on what he understood about her health.

In the New York Post report, Chase’s father reacted to the cause-of-death disclosure in a way that suggested family knowledge of her condition rather than a sudden public revelation. The paper framed the father’s remarks as coming in response to what it described as today’s sudden public reporting of the cause of death.

The report positioned the father’s reaction against the background of Chase’s career and recognizability in family entertainment. Chase is best known to many viewers for her role as the voice of Lilo in the animated film and related media, a part that brought her into mainstream popular culture as a child performer whose work continued to be revisited in years since release.

The New York Post also reported that Chase’s father discussed the disease in connection with her death, describing how her passing was understood within the family. The paper’s account did not, in the portion provided for this desk, offer additional corroborating details such as medical documentation, an official death certificate, or comments from publicists, studios, or other organizations acting on her behalf.

Chase’s death follows a recent pattern in entertainment news where cause-of-death coverage can vary in specificity until official documentation or statements are released. In this case, the only attribution provided here is the New York Post’s report of her father’s reaction, which means readers should treat the cause-of-death information as tied to that family statement rather than as independently verified in the record available for this article.

Because the evidence provided consists of a single news outlet report, additional confirmation would typically come from an official statement by the family, a representative for Chase’s estate, or other authoritative documentation. Without those materials in the supplied record, further reporting would be expected before any additional details about timing, treatment, or medical circumstances are treated as fully established facts.

For fans and industry observers, the immediate public impact centers on renewed attention to Chase’s recorded performances, including the role for which she is most associated. The broader cultural moment also reflects how disclosures about health conditions can shift the public understanding of a performer’s legacy after death, particularly when cause-of-death information becomes part of mainstream reporting.

Chase’s career also extended beyond her most famous voice role, and the New York Post report referenced her appearance at a premiere event tied to HBO’s “Big Love.” The use of that image underscores the continued public visibility of Chase’s work beyond the “Lilo & Stitch” brand, even as cause-of-death reporting focuses attention on the circumstances surrounding her death.