Gilbert shared an emotional Instagram tribute in which she connected Chase’s story to the pressures many child actors face behind the scenes.
Melissa Gilbert Reflects on Her Time With Daveigh Chase
Gilbert, who rose to fame as a child on “Little House on the Prairie,” said she worked with Chase on a television pilot more than 20 years. Although their time together was limited, she remembered the future “Lilo & Stitch” and “The Ring” star as “bright both in countenance and in mind,” adding that she was “bubbly, sweet and professional.” At the same time, Gilbert recalled noticing “a push or need to perform … for her parents,” a detail she says stayed with her over the years.
Drawing on her own experience growing up in Hollywood, Gilbert broadened her tribute into a reflection on the role families play in a child’s career. She stressed that success at a young age does not inevitably lead to lasting problems, writing that “Child stardom, in itself, is not a guarantee of dysfunction.” Instead, she argued that difficulties often arise when parents become consumed by their child’s career and lose sight of their broader responsibilities.
Gilbert also addressed the uncertainty many young performers face once the spotlight fades. She noted that only a small number of child actors remain in the industry as adults and urged parents to prioritize their children’s well-being over professional ambitions. Her advice included making sure young actors understand their finances, genuinely want to pursue acting, and maintain a healthy life outside the entertainment business with friends and everyday experiences.
The actress ended her message by expressing heartbreak over the circumstances surrounding Chase’s death. “If I had the chance to speak to any parents who were thinking about getting their children in the industry I would tell them to please, please make sure that they are doing it for the right reasons,” she wrote before urging families to remember Chase’s story “so that it never happens again.”
Chase died on June 16 at 35. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled that the actress died from complications related to AIDS, with chronic polysubstance use listed as a secondary cause. In the years leading up to her death, Chase had largely disappeared from public life while struggling with addiction, homelessness, and legal troubles.
