'Godzilla vs. Kong' Star Kaylee Hottle Dies at 18, Remembering Her Car

Kaylee Hottle, a 18-year-old actress known for her roles in "Godzilla vs. Kong" and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," died in a car accident on Monday.

Kaylee Hottle, a senior at Texas School for the Deaf, was 18 years old when she tragically passed away in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland. The news was confirmed by the school in a statement on social media.

"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," Texas School for the Deaf's post reads. "Our hearts are with Kaylee's family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time. At this time, we have very limited information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kaylee's family and refrain from sharing or speculating about the circumstances surrounding the accident."

Hottle is best known for playing Jia, a deaf orphan who forms a close bond with Kong in the 2021 film "Godzilla vs. Kong" and the 2024 film "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." For the latter, she was nominated for the Saturn Award for best performance by a younger actor.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 1, 2007, Hottle was from an all-deaf family and got her start in commercials promoting support for the deaf community. She was fluent in American Sign Language and communicated with Kong in both "Godzilla" films by signing.

In addition to her acting work, Hottle was an athlete and competed on Texas School for the Deaf's track-and-field team. Her father, Joshua Hottle, announced the news in a Facebook livestream using American Sign Language, saying that she died in a car accident in Maryland and he was flying from Texas to claim her body.

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The New York Times reported that Hottle's father said he was flying from Texas to claim her body, and that she died in a car accident in Maryland. The circumstances surrounding the accident are still unknown, and the family has asked for respect and privacy during this difficult time.

Texas School for the Deaf and Convo, a video interpreting service, have both paid tribute to Hottle's memory, with the school releasing a statement expressing its sadness and the service sharing a message about Hottle's contributions to the deaf community.

Source: Adom Online