Melissa Gilbert urges responsible parenting after child star Daveigh Chase's death

Actress Melissa Gilbert posted a tribute on Instagram after the death of former child actress Daveigh Chase, who was known for voicing Lilo in the original Lilo & Stitch films. Gilbert, who worked with Chase on an unaired pilot, said the circumstances of Chase’s death highlighted the risks of parental over-involvement in a child’s career.

"Many child actors grow up just fine, whether they stay in ‘the business’ or not. That is 100% due to really solid, wise parenting. Child stardom, in itself, is not a guarantee of dysfunction. However, when a parent or parents lose sight of who THEY are, of what their true responsibility is, and their lives revolve solely around their little star child, well, that’s where the trouble begins," Gilbert wrote.

She added that parents should ensure children understand their earnings, maintain a life outside of show business, and pursue acting for the right reasons. Gilbert also recalled working briefly with Chase, describing her as bright, bubbly and professional, but noting a perceived pressure to perform for her parents.

"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, urging regular financial oversight and a balanced lifestyle for child performers.

Chase, who struggled with substance-use issues, died earlier this month from AIDS-related complications.