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Kaylee Hottle, the talented 18-year-old actress recognized for her standout roles in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, has tragically passed away following a car accident in Maryland.
The news first emerged on July 21, when TMZ reported the heartbreaking incident. Kaylee’s father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed the tragic news and shared a video on Facebook in American Sign Language, explaining the accident and announcing that he was flying from Texas to Maryland to be with his daughter. In his post, he poignantly wrote, “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.”
According to reports, Kaylee was involved in a severe car crash on the morning of July 21 and sadly died while being transported to a nearby hospital.
Kaylee and her family were active members of the Deaf community. Her alma mater, the Texas School for the Deaf, expressed their sorrow on Facebook, stating, “It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland.
Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.” The school also requested privacy for the family and urged people to avoid speculation regarding the accident.
Kaylee began her career in 2017 with an advertisement for the ASL translation app, Convo. That same year, she was cast as Jia, a young orphan who forms a unique bond with King Kong, in Kong: Skull Island.
She went on to reprise this role in the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong, starring alongside Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Brian Tyree Henry, and Rebecca Hall.
Most recently, she appeared again as Jia in 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Her passing is a profound loss to both the entertainment world and the Deaf community.