Kaylee Hottle, an 18-year-old deaf actress known for her roles in the Godzilla film franchise, has died following a car crash in Frederick, Maryland. The accident occurred early Tuesday morning, according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.
Her death was confirmed by her father, Joshua, in a video shared on Facebook. The stream was conducted in American Sign Language, as the Hottle family is all deaf. The video was titled “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.”
The Atlanta-born actress is best known for portraying Jia, a young deaf orphan in the 2021 blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong and its 2024 sequel, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. In these films, her character formed a special bond with Kong, communicating with the monster through sign language.