Childhood friend and fellow Young Artist Award winner Amy Castle unveiled technology designed to help young performers navigate moments of crisis
HOLLYWOOD, CA, UNITED STATES, August 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Young Artist Academy™ introduced “Daveigh’s Law” on Sunday, August 16, during the 47th Awards at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood—a new technology-focused initiative inspired by the life and legacy of beloved child actress Daveigh Chase.
Best known around the world as the voice of Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, Chase also captivated audiences in such landmark projects as The Ring and Spirited Away. Her work earned her multiple Young Artist Award nominations and wins and made her one of the most recognizable young performers of her generation. She died June 16, 2026 at the age of 35.
Now, Amy Castle is transforming the narrative surrounding Chase’s passing into an effort designed to help protect those who follow in her footsteps.
Castle, who won a Young Artist Award for Lizzie McGuire during the same year that Chase was recognized for Lilo & Stitch, unveiled Daveigh’s Law from the Young Artist Awards stage.
The initiative is centered around a technology-driven platform created specifically to help professional child performers—and the adults responsible for their care—find appropriate assistance when a young artist encounters a crisis or feels threatened. The safety network is a proposed 24/7 phone, text, and app pathway for confidential support, safety coordination, referrals, and long-term follow-through.
From physical and emotional concerns to situations that may be difficult for a child to interpret or communicate, Daveigh’s Law is designed to guide young performers and concerned adults toward the right resources, at the right moment, with information specifically relevant to children working in entertainment.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition that child performers face circumstances that can be uniquely complicated by the demands of professional entertainment—including intense schedules, public scrutiny, unfamiliar environments, adult professional relationships, and pressures that young people may not always know how to navigate. Daveigh’s Law seeks to give them something they often lack: a clear path to help when they need it.
The announcement took on an especially poignant resonance as the entertainment community learned only hours later of the sudden passing of Hayden Panettiere, who began her own career as a child performer and won several of her first awards through the Young Artist Academy™. She then went on to become known for Heroes, Nashville, and other major projects. Panettiere was 36. Her death, announced Sunday, underscored in an unexpected and heartbreaking way the importance of conversations surrounding the lifelong wellbeing and support of young people who grow up in the entertainment industry. The timing was an extraordinary and sobering reminder of why the wellbeing of young performers must extend beyond the spotlight and throughout their lives.
The announcement was part of an evening dedicated to celebrating the achievements, potential, and wellbeing of young artists. The 47th Young Artist Awards featured special merit honoree Idina Menzel, who received the academy’s Impact on Youth Award, and was hosted by acclaimed actor and television personality Terry Crews.
The Young Artist Academy, founded to recognize and support young performers and creators, views Daveigh’s Law as an extension of its longstanding mission to help ensure that young people pursuing careers in entertainment have not only opportunities to succeed, but the resources and support necessary to navigate the unique challenges that can accompany those careers.
About the Young Artist Academy™
The Young Artist Academy™ is dedicated to recognizing, educating, and empowering young artists working across film, television, theater, music, and digital media. Through its awards, programs, mentorship, and industry initiatives, the academy works to champion young talent while promoting a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for the next generation of creative professionals.
Andre Marcel
AMB Publicity
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Young Artist Academy™ Amy Castle Unveils “Daveigh’s Law”
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