Melissa Gilbert marks the death of former co-star Daveigh Chase with a public tribute describing her passing as heartbreaking and possibly preventable. Gilbert, herself known for child acting, says she understands the pressures faced by young performers and urges greater consideration of how and why children enter entertainment. According to accounts of Chase’s death, Chase died earlier this month after a long period involving substance use, homelessness, and multiple health complications, and she had AIDS. The reports note that Chase had worked with Gilbert on a project where they shared screen time. In her comments, Gilbert broadens the focus beyond grief, criticizing what she characterizes as irresponsible “stage parenting” and calling on parents and guardians to weigh the potential effects that involvement in the industry can have on children. Overall, the coverage centers on Gilbert’s mourning for Chase while also highlighting a critique of the role adults play in managing child performers’ careers and wellbeing.