Kaylee Hottle, the young actress known for her role in the recent “Godzilla” films, has died at age 18.
BOXBOROUGH, MA – NOVEMBER 28: Kaylee Hottle attends the 2021 Northeast Comic Con & Collectibles Extravaganza at Boxborough Regency Hotel & Conference Center on November 28, 2021 in Boxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed to TMZ that she was killed in a car accident early Tuesday morning in Maryland.
He shared the details in a heartbreaking livestream, explaining in ASL that he had to fly from Texas to claim her body. Officials told him that she was involved in a serious accident and her heart stopped on the way to the hospital.
Both Kaylee and her father are deaf and come from a multi-generational deaf family, according to The Houston Chronicle. Kaylee attended the Texas School for the Deaf, which released a statement on her passing.
“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,” the school wrote on Facebook. “Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.”
The school added, “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.”
Kaylee was an Atlanta, Georgia native who got her start in acting in commercials. She appeared in an ad for the live video messaging app Glide, which is used by members of the deaf and hard of hearing community, when she was just nine years old.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 25: Kaylee Hottle attends the Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures world premiere of “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire” at TCL Chinese Theatre on March 25, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
In 2021, Kaylee landed the role of Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong.” Her character lives on Skull Island, home to Kong, and is able to communicate with the giant ape via sign language. She reprised her role in the 2024 film “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.”
Kaylee’s other credits include a 2021 episode of “Magnum P.I.”
Follow us on Instagram @WeArePauseRewind for all your pop culture obsessions.