Lilo & Stitch Cast Info

About the Characters

Daveigh Chase (Lilo) adds quirks, personality and a wide range of emotion to the title character of a lonely Hawaiian girl. The now-eleven-year-old actress/singer first auditioned for the job at the age of eight.

"It was really exciting to get the part," recalls Chase. "I love animation and one of my dreams was to voice an animated character! ‘Lilo & Stitch’ is an awesome movie and I had so much fun making it. Chris and Dean would discuss the scene with me before each recording session and I would get a good picture of it in my head. They let me have input as to how Lilo would say something because I could really relate to a character so close to my own age. The directors were great to work with and we had lots of fun.

"The first time I saw Lilo and heard my voice coming out of her mouth was kind of strange " and cool at the same time. She even has some of my mannerisms. It’s going to be very cool going to see the movie and not telling anyone there that I’m the voice of Lilo, and then watching their reactions to the film. I think a lot of people " kids especially " will identify with Lilo, because she’s very real. And lovable!"

Chase is one busy kid! In addition to her role as Lilo, she is developing quite an extensive list of voiceover credits and has recently completed the starring role of Chihiro in the English-dubbed version of Miyazaki’s anime blockbuster hit, "Spirited Away." The latter has become Japan’s most successful release of all time and Disney will release an English language version (with Pixar’s John Lasseter serving as creative consultant) this fall. Chase also provides voices for Disney’s latest animated television series, "Fillmore!," which debuts on ABC this fall.

Among the actress’ other major credits, she just finished filming the role of Samara for the feature film, "Ring," a remake of the highly-rated Japanese horror flick of the same name. "Ring" is being directed by Gore Verbinski and will be released by DreamWorks this fall. Chase also completed roles in the films, "Carolina" (directed by Marleen Gorris for Miramax), and "Silence" (Waldo/West Productions). Other recent film credits include "Donnie Darko" (directed by Richard Kelly), and "R.L. Stine’s Haunted Lighthouse" (directed by Joe Dante), in which she played a young ghost named Annabel and learned to "fly" (in a harness).

Chase’s numerous television credits include a regular series role (as Joyce) in the upcoming fall Fox show "Oliver Beene." She has also appeared in such shows as "Say Uncle," "Family Law," "Touched by an Angel," "ER," "The Practice" and "The Lot."

An exceptional and passionate singer, Chase began performing publicly at the age of four. At the 2002 American Veteran Awards, she sang an a cappella version of the "Star-Spangled Banner" and performed the closing number, "God Bless America," joined on stage by singers Randy Travis and Michael Bolton. For director Steven Spielberg’s film, "A.I.," she had the opportunity to work in studio with composer John Williams. She also appeared as an opening act for Reba McEntire at the Oregon Jamboree ’99, and at age eight was a two-time local level winner of the Jimmy Dean Country Showdown. She loves all types of music and enjoys singing with bands and writing song lyrics.

In spite of her busy professional career, Chase still maintains the life of an everyday kid. She is a naturally charismatic and down-to-earth child with a great sense of humor; a natural athlete who enjoys bike rides, dance and most sports (including ice skating and horseback riding). She also loves to just "hang out" and spend time with family and friends.

Tia Carrere (Nani) tapped into her Hawaiian heritage and many years of living on the island for her vocal performance as Lilo’s older sister. Trying to strike a balance between being a responsible guardian/provider and a fun-loving teenage sister, Nani has the weight of the world on her shoulders and more than she can handle when Stitch joins her family.

"It was really cool being from Hawaii and getting to play a Hawaiian character," says Carrere. "From the first frame of the film, with the hula dance and the chanting, you’re already in Hawaii and there’s something easy and breezy about it. I was born and raised in Honolulu, so when they asked me to infuse the character with some Hawaiianisms, I put in some pidgin English like the locals speak. It’s an amalgam of the various ethnic backgrounds putting simple English words together in a specific way. There’s a different intonation to it that is kind of sing-songy.

"I definitely think having the film set in Hawaii is a plus," she adds. "When you watch it, you feel like you’re on vacation there. The surfing sequence and the hula number are awesome and it takes you back to a happy time. The Elvis music is also fantastic and adds to the flavor of a Hawaiian holiday.

"When I first met Chris and Dean, I told them I must sing in a Disney animated feature," recalls Carrere. "And they told me about this plot point where the two sisters are in a hammock and Nani has to tell Lilo that things are not working out. They hadn’t figured out how to handle the emotion of the scene yet so I suggested a lullaby as she rocks Lilo to sleep. I told them about the song my grandmother used to sing to me and said I would call her to get the lyrics. The song is ‘Aloha ‘Oe’ and it’s a really beautiful melody that says goodbye in a very accepting way. It’s always been one of my favorite Hawaiian songs. I sang it for the directors and they decided to put it in the film. I’m so happy with the way it fit in because it provides a nice quiet moment before the action begins.

"Nani definitely means well," she continues. "But she’s still a young girl herself trying to be a mother to both of them. It’s a very difficult situation but the fact that the two sisters love each other you know somehow they will make it. The Hawaiian concept of ‘ohana is all about sticking together and the family will prevail. It’s a beautiful concept and really adds to the emotional power of the film. I was very proud to be a part of it." Carrere has stolen the hearts of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wesley Snipes and Mike Myers in her most memorable roles in "True Lies,""Rising Sun," and both installments of "Wayne’s World." Her films have scored more than $750 million combined box office worldwide. But it was probably a TV commercial that proved the most terse example of her devastating charms, when a smitten yellow M&M allowed her literally to eat him alive.

She is currently starring in the hit syndicated series "Relic Hunter." Carrere portrays Sydney Fox, an unorthodox history professor renowned for her knowledge of ancient civilizations.

Also an accomplished singer with a CD released on Warner Bros. Records called Dream, Carrere is currently working on another album and recently performed two benefit concerts for Peter Gabriel.

Ving Rhames (Cobra Bubbles) lends his tough tone to this unsociable social worker with a secret past. With his imposing size, dark glasses, and tattooed knuckles, this enigmatic "special classification" social worker is the one they call when things go wrong. Rhames’ matter-of-fact, static delivery adds to the tough exterior but reveals a compassionate and tender spot behind it.

Thomas Schumacher observes, "Ving does a great job of portraying someone who is tough as nails and completely solid but with the ability to turn at the end and exhibit a softer side. His voice is so commanding and mysterious. He helps to bring great life to this character, who comes to play such a pivotal role in Lilo’s life." Rhames gained Hollywood’s undivided attention in 1994 after playing Marsellus Wallace in Quentin Tarantino’s pop culture juggernaut "Pulp Fiction." He has had memorable roles in Steven Soderbergh’s "Out of Sight;" Brian De Palma’s "Mission: Impossible" and the John Woo-directed sequel; Martin Scorsese’s "Bringing Out the Dead;" "Rosewood" and "Baby Boy," both for director John Singleton; and HBO’s "Don King: Only In America," for which he was awarded a Golden Globe for Best Actor In A Miniseries in 1998. He recently starred in the CBS telefilm, "Little John."

Born in New York City, the actor grew up in the 126th Street neighborhood of Harlem. After his high school English teacher spotted his interest in poetry and command of the English language, Rhames was accepted at New York’s High School of Performing Arts, where he began to pursue acting. After graduating he was accepted at Juilliard School of Drama, and following his studies there acted locally in New York Shakespeare in the Park productions. He made his Broadway debut in 1984, starring opposite Matt Dillon in "The Winter Boys."

Rhames had recurring roles on the popular soap operas "Another World" and "Guiding Light" before scoring critically-acclaimed supporting roles in feature films such as "Casualties of War" and "Jacob’s Ladder," which led to his breakthrough turn in "Pulp Fiction." His other film credits include "Con Air" and "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within." The actor made headlines in 1998, when he turned over his Best Actor trophy to fellow nominee Jack Lemmon at the Golden Globe awards ceremony.

David Ogden Stiers (Jumba) joins the Walt Disney Feature Animation five-timers club after delighting audiences in four previous films with his vocal turns as Cogsworth the Clock in "Beauty and the Beast," the greedy Governor Ratcliffe in "Pocahontas," the Archdeacon in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and Mr. Harcourt in "Atlantis: The Lost Empire."

The versatile actor is well known to the public for his six-year stint on the hit television show "M*A*S*H," in which he portrayed Major Charles Emerson Winchester III. The role earned him two Emmy Award nominations. He subsequently received a third nomination for his work in the NBC miniseries "The First Olympics: Athens 1896."

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Stiers began his acting career with the California Shakespeare Festival and, later, the Actors’ Workshop in San Francisco. Following this, he went to New York to study acting at the Juilliard School and with the first graduating class became a charter member of John Houseman’s Acting Company. With the latter, he toured in such shows as "The Beggar’s Opera," "The Three Sisters," "Measure for Measure," and "The Lower Depths." On Broadway, Stiers appeared in "Ulysses in Night Town" with Zero Mostel, and starred in the hit musical "The Magic Show." In the area of motion pictures, Stiers recently starred opposite Jim Carrey in "The Majestic" and in Woody Allen’s "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion." His other credits include "Oh God!," "Magic," "The Man with One Red Shoe," "Better Off Dead," "Another Woman," "The Accidental Tourist," "Doc Hollywood," "Steal Big, Steal Little," "Bad Company," "Mighty Aphrodite," "Jungle2Jungle," and "Everyone Says I Love You." His television work includes such distinguished programs as "North and South," "The Innocents Abroad," "The Day The Bubble Burst," "Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry," "Anatomy of an Illness," "The Final Days," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and voiceover roles for Disney’s "Teacher’s Pet," and "House of Mouse."

In addition to his acting talents, Stiers has conducted symphony orchestras across the country including ensembles in Portland, Maine, San Francisco, San Diego, Honolulu, Los Angeles and Chicago. Stiers is associate conductor of the Yaquina Orchestra, and the Ernest Bloch Music Festival in Newport, Oregon.

Kevin McDonald (Pleakley) provides the voice of this comical one-eyed, three-legged Earth enthusiast sent to capture Stitch and return him to his native planet. Best known as the wild-haired, hyperkinetic member of "The Kids in the Hall" Canadian comedy troupe and the character of Pastor Dave on "That ’70s Show," the actor gives a hilarious performance as this cultural contamination expert who learned all he knows about Earth from Viewmaster® images.

Disney Feature Animation President Thomas Schumacher notes, "We knew we wanted a voice that was comic and that could sound like an expert in absolutely nothing as well as someone who could feel spontaneous and really work with our process. We love actors who can play along. And Kevin McDonald really made the animation soar from the moment we picked him."

A native of Montreal, Quebec, McDonald got his earliest exposure to show business when his family moved to Los Angeles (when he was seven) and they lived across the street from the studio where "Let’s Make A Deal" was produced. McDonald was thus daily exposed to people lining his street in pickle costumes and the like, and the formative influence this must have had on the young comedy writer/actor cannot be underestimated.

While attending high school in Missisauga, Ontario, McDonald decided he wanted to be an actor. At age 19, he moved to Toronto and enrolled at Humber College, where he intended to read Drama but was eventually kicked out. A professor, however, saw his comic gifts and recommended him to Toronto’s Second City improv workshop, where he met fellow usher Dave Foley and began hanging out in various hallways. McDonald and Foley teamed up with Second City alumnus Luciano Casimiri to form the embryonic version of comedy troupe "The Kids in the Hall," which first played in local clubs and later metamorphosed into a five-man team including McDonald, Foley, Scott Thompson, Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney. After a successful five-year run and a feature film, McDonald branched out into live-action features including "Galaxy Quest" and "The Ladies Man." He has also provided voices for animated characters, including The Almighty Tallest from "Invader Zim."

McDonald claims he has been personally rescued from a burning building by Charlton Heston. He is currently touring with "The Kids in the Hall" stage show. A pay-per-view special will be released following the tour as well and he’s writing a Rock & Roll "mocumentary" and creating a TV show. McDonald currently lives in Los Angeles with his girlfriend Breanne Munro and their eight pets. No, he’s not crazy; he rescued them.

Jason Scott Lee (David Kawena) is the good-natured voice behind Nani’s friendly and dependable former boyfriend. David becomes an important member of Lilo and Nani’s extended family and is always there to help ride the waves when problems and challenges arise. When things get too hot at his job as a firetorch dancer, he knows that the best way to cool off is to head to the beach with his surfboard.

For the actor, who was raised in Hawaii from the age of two and still calls it home today, the role of David really hit home. "It was very interesting from a Hawaiian’s point of view to see all the sensitive emotions and cultural subtleties that the filmmakers put into this film. The feeling and the tone of the characters were just right on and very solid. And the expression of ‘ohana was, for me, really the emotional crux of the film. Knowing the word and the meaning behind it, made the story all the more penetrating and powerful. In a sense, ‘ohana is like the center of the universe and everything extends outward from there. The fact that the concept is being used by a child like Lilo gives it such gravity. "David is a very accepting guy," adds Lee. "He’s a real image of the Hawaiian community. He acknowledges the aliens and says, ‘yeah, there’s room for everybody.’ This kind of openness is what ‘aloha’ means and the offshoot of that is ‘ohana. It’s a basic feeling of caring for each other. It doesn’t matter if you’re blood related.

"The filmmakers did an excellent job of capturing the imagery of Hawaii," he continues. "Lilo’s village looks like a little place in Kauai that I know with its plantation homes. They represented Hawaii extremely well and with a real sensitivity to the culture. The hula scene is also very accurate with its music, movements and the presentation of the children. It was really fascinating to watch. The surfing scenes had a lot of momentum and energy and it was exhilarating just watching them. They portrayed surfing as I think it is, which is a meditation. There’s a sense of ‘I don’t know how to fix things but, hey, let’s jump on the board and see if we can overcome our problems.’ It’s a very healing sport."

"Coming from a small island in the Pacific, it’s really great to think that my voice will always be related to this character. David is a pretty cool fellow. He captures the Hawaiian attitude of ‘don’t worry about things, we’ll work it out.’ When you get a day you can go surfing, you go surfing."

A Hawaiian-Chinese-American born in Los Angeles, Lee’s interests in drama began in high school; however he did not begin formal studies until he attended Fullerton college in Orange County, California. His acting coach Sal Romeo steered him into seeking an acting career, which soon materialized when he landed a role in "Born in East L.A." Various roles for television and movies followed, such as "Back to the Future Part II" and the CBS After School Special "American Eyes." With the critically-acclaimed "Map of the Human Heart" from Miramax, the actor took on his first starring role as "Avik." This was followed by a standout performance as the title character in the biopic "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story." His other lead roles have included Noro in "Rapa Nui" and Mowgli in Disney’s live-action version of "The Jungle Book." In 1998, he starred in Warner Brothers "Soldier" produced by Jerry Weintraub, and in 1999, he appeared in Hallmark’s "Arabian Nights."

In addition to his film credits, Lee has also performed in several dramatic productions in Los Angeles with the Friends and Artists Theatre and in the Honolulu Kumu Kahua Theater’s production of Edward Sakamoto’s play, "Stew Rice." In addition he performed in director Chris Renshaw’s London Palladium Theatre production of "The King and I."

Zoe Caldwell (Grand Councilwoman), a four-time Tony Award-winner, lends her powerful vocal prowess to the role of the Galactic Federation’s commander-in-chief. When faced with the misdeeds of an evil scientist whose forbidden genetic experiment has produced Stitch, she takes matters into her own hands and launches a series of tough actions to rectify the situation.

Caldwell began acting professionally at the age of 9 in her native Australia. She has performed in many theatre companies including Australia’s Union Repertory Company and the Elizabethan Theatre Trust, England’s Stratford-On-Avon, and Canada’s Stratford Festival Theatre. The acclaimed actress first played Broadway in 1966, winning a Tony for her performance as Polly in Tennessee Williams’ "Slapstick Tragedy" and another in 1970 for her eponymous role in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." In 1982 she was awarded a third Tony for her performance in "Medea," and a fourth Tony in 1996 for her portrayal of Maria Callas in "Master Class."

Caldwell began directing in 1977; her productions have included "An Almost Perfect Person" with Colleen Dewhurst, "Richard II," "These Men," "Park Your Car in Harvard Yard," and "Vita and Virginia" with Vanessa Redgrave. She has appeared in original television productions for BBC, CBC and PBS. Caldwell was presented with an O.B.E. by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970. Her sole movie credit previous to "Lilo and Stitch" was the put-upon, neurotic and tragically fictional Countess in the movie-within-the-movie of Woody Allen’s "The Purple Rose of Cairo."

Kevin Michael Richardson (Captain Gantu) provides the voice of this giant 20-foot-tall alien officer charged with carrying out Stitch’s banishment into space. From the time that Stitch escapes up until his capture on Earth, Gantu is hot on his trail and won’t rest until this genetic-experiment-gone-wrong is brought to justice.

Richardson has provided voices for animated television shows including "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command," "House of Mouse," "Justice League," "The Legend of Tarzan," "Lloyd in Space," "Recess," "The Wild Thornberrys," "The PJs," "Batman Beyond," "Family Guy," and "Earthworm Jim." His voice has also been heard in many Star Wars videogames from LucasArts, including "Jedi Outcast: Jedi Knight II," "Jedi Starfighter," "Galactic Battlegrounds," "Obi-Wan," "Super Bombad Racing," "Force Commander," and "Jedi Power Battles." His latest voice projects for Disney include this summer’s "The Country Bears" and the character Merkus in the upcoming video premiere "Tarzan and Jane."

The actor’s television credits also include a recurring role on "ER" (as Patrick) and "Homeboys in Outer Space," and a stint as the voice of Barney Rubble in the made-for-television feature "The Flintstones on the Rocks" (2001). He served as the announcer for the 2000 Emmy Awards and his voice has been heard in many commercials, trailers and other animated programs.

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