{"id":407758,"date":"2026-07-22T09:37:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T09:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/407758\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T09:37:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T09:37:25","slug":"kaylee-hottle-dead-godzilla-vs-kong-star-killed-in-car-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/407758\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaylee Hottle dead: ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ star killed in car crash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Actor Kaylee Hottle, best known for her portrayal of a young deaf orphan who shares a special bond with the giant guardian ape in \u201cGodzilla vs. Kong<\/a>\u201d and \u201cGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire<\/a>,\u201d has died. She was 18. <\/p>\n

Hottle died Tuesday morning after the car she was a passenger in crashed into a culvert off the side of the road in Ijamsville, Md., the Frederick County Sheriff\u2019s Office said in a news release<\/a>. Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death in a video on Facebook<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am taking a flight that I never would like to take,\u201d he wrote in the caption of the video post, in which he explained the situation in American Sign Language. He was on his way from Texas to claim her body, according to TMZ<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Texas School for the Deaf also addressed the actor\u2019s death on social media. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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,\u201d read the Instagram<\/a> post. \u201cOur hearts are with Kaylee\u2019s family, friends, classmates and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.\u201d <\/p>\n

Hottle\u2019s breakout role was in the 2021 MonsterVerse crossover \u201cGodzilla vs. Kong<\/a>,\u201d which marked her big-screen debut as the young orphan Jia. Jia is the last remaining survivor of the Iwi tribe on Skull Island who shares a connection with Kong, the island\u2019s protector. Her adoptive parent, Dr. Ilene Andrews, is a linguistics expert and Kong researcher, played by Rebecca Hall. Hottle reprised the role in the 2024 follow-up, \u201cGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I watched the movie, I thought, \u2018Wow, this is going to make such a big impact,\u2019\u201d Hottle said in a 2024 interview<\/a> with New York\u2019s WABC. \u201cI was so excited. She\u2019s a young deaf girl, just like many others out there. And this journey that she\u2019s going on is just going to be so amazing.\u201d <\/p>\n

The actor, who was born in Atlanta, was from an all-deaf family, which included four generations of deaf relatives on her father\u2019s side, according to IMDb<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Authorities said Hottle was one of two passengers in the 1995 Honda Accord that was involved in the crash. While the incident is still being investigated, the Sheriff\u2019s Office said in its news release that \u201cexcessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the collision.\u201d <\/p>\n

Millie Bobby Brown, who also appeared in \u201cGodzilla vs. Kong,\u201d was among those who shared tributes to Hottle following the news of her death.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so devastated to hear this,\u201d she wrote in her Instagram story, which included a black-and-white photo of Hottle as Jia. \u201cYou will be deeply missed Kaylee.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am absolutely gutted about the passing of sweet Kaylee Hottle,\u201d Oscar winner Marlee Matlin wrote on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cMay her beauty and talent be a memory for eternity. … Such a privilege to have met Kaylee last year. Please be kind to one another. Take the time to listen to your child. Say \ud83e\udd1f\ud83c\udffc each time you part. \ud83e\ude75\u201d <\/p>\n