Kaylee Hottle dies aged 18 after Maryland car crash, Godzilla x Kong actress remembered
Tributes are flowing after the Godzilla x Kong actress died aged 18.
US actress Kaylee Hottle, best known for playing Jia in the Godzilla x Kong film franchise, has died in a car crash in Maryland.
She was 18.
The deaf actress rose to international fame in Godzilla vs Kong (2021) before reprising her role in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024), earning a Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a Facebook video using American Sign Language.
Authorities said the single-vehicle crash happened in Ijamsville, Maryland, about 2.50am on Tuesday local time, with investigators believing excessive speed was a factor.
A 19-year-old driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while another passenger declined medical treatment.
Millie Bobby Brown paid tribute to her co-star on social media, writing, “I’m so devastated to hear this,” Brown wrote over a black-and-white shot of a young Hottle acting in the 2021 blockbuster.
“You will be deeply missed Kaylee.”
The Texas School for the Deaf said it learned of Hottle’s death with “profound sadness”, adding, “Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.”
The school also urged people to respect the family’s privacy and “not speculate about the crash”.
