Gilbert remembers Chase as a bright, kind and professional young artist during their time together more than two decades ago. Image credit (Melissa Gilbert Instagram)
Melissa Gilbert has shared an emotional tribute to her former costar Davey Chase, using the tragedy as an opportunity to address the wider dangers facing child actors in the entertainment industry. The Emmy-nominated actress, who worked with a young Chase on a TV pilot more than two decades ago, posted her thoughts on Instagram on Monday, June 29, drawing attention to the complex circumstances surrounding Chase’s death.Chase died on June 16 at the age of 35 after being hospitalized in Los Angeles due to malnutrition. It was later revealed that it was caused by AIDS. Chase’s father told the New York Times that his daughter had struggled with drug addiction since she was 13 years old, experienced homelessness, and lived in difficult conditions near the hospital where she eventually died.
Melissa Gilbert’s memories of working with Davey Chase
Gilbert thought warmly of her limited but useful time working with Chase during the pilot production.
“This is it [Daveigh Chase] I knew. I shot a pilot for a series with her over 20 years ago. I had only worked with Devi for two days, but I saw that she was bright in appearance and mind. She was bubbly, sweet and professional. “But there was something else there, a drive or need to perform… for her parents,” Gilbert wrote alongside a throwback photo.
The actress’s remarks painted a picture of a talented young artist while at the same time highlighting what she saw as parental pressure influencing Chase’s approach to her work, even at a young age.
The great roles played by Davy Chase and his career path
According to a report by USA Today, Chase made her big screen debut at the age of 10 starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the 2001 psychological thriller Donnie Darko. She went on to secure notable voice acting roles, including playing the young heroine Chihiro in the English dub of Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. In the same year she portrayed the misfit character Lilo in the 2002 animated film “Lilo & Stitch”.
Chase’s most famous role came when she terrified audiences as long-haired, rubber-jointed Samara in the horror film “The Ring,” crawling out of a television set in a scene that became deeply embedded in popular culture. Her chilling performance earned her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, a recognition that placed her alongside acclaimed performers in that category. Chase’s last film appearance was in 2016 with the thriller “American Romance”, and after that she has largely stayed out of the public spotlight.
Melissa Gilbert’s broader message about Parental responsibility in child stardom
Gilbert expanded her commentary to address systemic issues affecting child actors more broadly. “I’ve been around a lot of child actors, myself included, which makes us all part of a big, multi-generational tribe. As a result, I’ve also been around a lot of stage parents. Many child actors grow up just fine, whether they stay in ‘the business’ or not. This is 100% down to really wise parenting. Child stardom, in and of itself, is no guarantee of dysfunction.”
However, when a parent loses sight of who they are, what their true responsibility is, and their life only revolves around their little star child, well, that’s where the problem begins.”
Gilbert emphasized the crucial importance of parental guidance in overcoming the unique pressures of show business. “It takes strong parenting to handle everything that comes along [child stardom]. The terrible part is that very few child actors still work as actors.
“For most people, this goes away, and when it does, it not only devastates the child, it turns the entire family upside down.”
Davey Chase struggles with drug addiction and health challenges
Chase’s mother provided additional context to the Daily Mail, revealing that her daughter had been prescribed oxycodone and other painkillers after a motorcycle accident in 2016. That prescription was the beginning of serious substance abuse problems that would affect the rest of her life.Gilbert addressed the complexity of Chase’s situation with empathy and understanding. “Today, as I read the circumstances of Davey’s death, I am deeply saddened. I certainly understand substance use disorder, but the death of this beautiful girl is so much more than that,” she wrote, acknowledging the struggles of addiction and deeper systemic failings that contributed to Chase’s circumstances.
Melissa Gilbert’s guidance for parents considering this industry
In her closing remarks, Gilbert made a direct appeal to parents to consider placing their children in entertainment.
“If I had the opportunity to talk to any parents who are thinking about getting their child into this industry, I would tell them to please, please make sure they are doing it for the right reasons. To make sure that this is something the child really wants. To make sure that that child has a thriving life outside of the industry that is full of friends and responsibilities and ‘normal’ things,” she urged.Gilbert concluded with a strong call to remember Chase’s story. “I would also like to ask these parents to keep this beautiful girl’s face and story so that it never happens again,” she added, turning the tragedy into a cautionary lesson for the entertainment industry and families considering children’s performing careers.
