Daveigh Chase’s Last 10 Roles in Movies and Shows, Ranked

Daveigh Chase was an American actress and voice artist who became a household name after two iconic roles in the 2000s: voicing the high-spirited Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch (2002) and portraying the terrifying, television-crawling ghost Samara Morgan in the horror hit The Ring (2002). Unfortunately, the actress passed away on June 16, 2026, at the age of 35 due to complications from meningitis.

Chase’s Hollywood career was short, as her last role was in 2016. She gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Samantha Darko in the cult classic Donnie Darko franchise. Her biggest role following her stint in films is that of the manipulative teenager Rhonda Volmer in the HBO show Big Love. We break down her last ten roles in movies and television, ranking them based on the popularity of her characters.

10 Diana Reed in Without a Trace (2008)

The popular CBS police procedural saw Daveigh Chase play a guest role in a single episode: A Bend in the Road. The series follows a fictional missing persons FBI unit in NYC, making Without a Trace a psychological profiling show. Chase played Diana Reed, integral to the case-of-the-week, adding drama to the investigative atmosphere.

The entry comes in at #10 for being a standard guest role on a procedural show. Even though Without a Trace was a massive success, this role had minimal impact on her career compared to her voice roles and feature films.

Without a Trace is available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV in the U.S.

9 Ashley Jeffries in Mercy (2009)

The NBC medical drama Mercy is another good example of Chase taking on a guest role but leaving an impact on the show. Playing the character of Ashley Jeffries in this one-season show, the series would mark an important transition for her career into mature roles despite its short-lived run.

Coming in at #9 puts this role above Without a Trace because of the expanded acting range she displayed for the character. Instead of being the usual suspect, she played a role in the overarching narrative of the interpersonal conflicts.

Mercy is not available to stream.

8 Krissy Madison in American Romance (2016)

American Romance is Chase’s final credited feature film role, where she starred as Krissy Madison. The movie follows an FBI agent and a young couple whose lives intertwine when a deranged serial killer becomes obsessed with the idea of true love. Despite the film being panned by critics, her performance demonstrated a willingness to take on challenging horror roles at the end stage of her career.

The role lands at #8 for being bigger than usual guest spots in television, giving more weight to her filmography. Due to the poor reception, the ranking does not go higher as it virtually has no cultural impact.

American Romance is streaming on Prime Video in the U.S.

7 Paige York in Killer Crush (2015)

Starring as the antagonist in Killer Crush, Chase played Paige York in this direct-to-TV Lifetime thriller. Her character is a disturbed medical student who develops an obsession with her married professor. The plot devolves into classic Lifetime-style melodrama, but her full commitment to the unhinged role manages to generate sympathy for the character despite the generic script.

Paige York takes the #7 spot for Chase being the lead villain in a Lifetime movie that allowed her to get a fair amount of spotlight shine. The role ranks above American Romance’s because it doubles down on its B-movie premise while delivering what the audience expects.

Killer Crush is available to rent or buy on Prime Video in the U.S.

6 Kelley Bonner in Little Red Wagon (2012)

Little Red Wagon is a philanthropic docudrama where Daveigh Chase played Kelley Bonner, a resentful but loving teen sister of a boy who launches a charity for hurricane victims. The film focuses on the true story of the Little Red Wagon foundation, with critics praising Chase’s tender and vulnerable performance.

The movie and role sit at #6, serving as the bridge between her lesser-known thrillers and her more significant roles. The role of Kelley is one of Chase’s more grounded acting performances in her entire filmography, even if the movie is obscure.

Little Red Wagon is available to rent or buy on Prime Video in the U.S.

5 Mary Holmes (young) in Yellow (2012)

Daveigh Chase played a supporting character as the young version of Mary Holmes in Yellow. The dark dramedy centers on the adult Mary Holmes, a substitute teacher struggling with drug addiction and a traumatic history. In flashback sequences, Chase managed to convince audiences of the various issues that plagued Mary’s childhood, making her role essential to providing a foundation for the lead role.

This performance ranks at #5 as Chase worked with an established director (Nick Cassavetes) on a film-circuit film that gave her filmography a prestige boost. Despite only having flashback roles, Chase’s character was extremely vital to the film, putting it above her side character roles and below her leading ones.

Yellow is not available to stream in the U.S.

4 Shanda in Jack Goes Home (2016)

Shanda is one of the final acting roles that Chase took on, in this independent psychological horror film. Jack Goes Home stars Chase alongside Rory Culkin in a movie that follows a magazine editor who returns to his hometown following his father’s tragic death. Chase portrayed the protagonist’s childhood friend to deliver a creepy performance that worked well with the trippy and confusing atmosphere of the film.

Jack Goes Home earns #4 on this list for its high-quality feature film that worked well on many levels. Chase stands her own ground with a strong ensemble, distinguishing this movie from the lower-tier thrillers she’s starred in.

Jack Goes Home is streaming on Starz in the U.S.

3 Betsy in Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures (2008)

Betsy is a departure from Daveigh Chase’s usual thriller roles, as she voices the character in this PBS Kids animated series. Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures is a great example of Chase’s versatility as a voice actor, building on the strong foundation that made her famous in Lilo & Stitch. Entering a different market than the mature audience, she still managed to bring a lively and energetic vocal performance that appealed to children.

This role breaks into the top three due to the impact it had on her career. She anchored this PBS show as the title character, a major feat for any actor. While not a career-best in her last ten roles, it still proves that Chase’s talent in voice acting never left.

Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures is streaming on Prime Video in the U.S.

2 Samantha Darko in S. Darko (2009)

Following up on 2001’s cult classic Donnie Darko, Chase reprises her breakout role as Samantha Darko in the sequel S. Darko. The movie is set seven years after the original and follows Samantha’s road trip journey as she experiences strange hallucinations. The film did not appeal to critics as it didn’t capture the magic of the original, but Chase’s performance is the centerpiece as she carries this convoluted movie to the very end.

The role of Samantha lands at #2 for the immense cultural footprint the Donnie Darko movies left on the world. Chase’s ability to lead a sequel to a cult classic proved that she is capable of steering high-profile films in her career.

S. Darko is available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV in the U.S.

1 Rhonda Volmer in Big Love (2006 – 2011)

The most substantial and rewarding role in Daveigh Chase’s career is that of Rhonda Volmer in the HBO drama Big Love. Over the course of 32 episodes, Rhonda is the manipulative and sociopathic teen who constantly schemes around the main cast to use them in her agenda. Chase’s brilliant and convincing portrayal of the disturbed character had everybody tuned in and hooked to what she would do next in this critically acclaimed series.

Rhonda is unequivocally the best role in her career, turning five seasons of the Emmy-nominated show into top-tier television. Chase was an emerging actor during this, taking on a major antagonist role on her head, which she carried well enough for fans to recount.

Big Love is streaming on HBO Max in the U.S.

Here is a summary of the roles mentioned here along with their ratings.

Daveigh Chase’s final decade in Hollywood reflects a period of unpredictable trajectory that stemmed from a massive childhood breakout role. While most of her films panned at the box office or with critics/audiences, there’s no denying she remains a cultural icon for the generation that grew up watching The Ring and Lilo & Stitch. Her stint in Big Love was the magnum opus she’s left the world with.

You can dive into her lesser-known thrillers based on the different streaming services mentioned per entry, and we urge you to consider her best roles towards the end in honor of the actress.

What role of hers do you plan to see? Let us know in the comments.