GODZILLA vs Kong star Kaylee Hottle has died at the age of 18, following a fatal car crash in Maryland.
The young actress, who won hearts worldwide as Jia in the hit Hollywood monster franchise, passed away following the collision.
Here is everything we know so far about her death, her life, and the tributes pouring in.
Who was Kaylee Hottle?
Kaylee Hottle was a young American actress best known for her breakout role as Jia in the Legendary Pictures MonsterVerse film series.
Born in 2007 into an all-deaf family, Kaylee grew up natively fluent in American Sign Language (ASL).
Her path to Hollywood stardom began in 2017 when she starred in a commercial for the video relay service provider Convo.
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Her major break arrived when acclaimed casting director Sarah Halley Finn was seeking a deaf actress to play Jia – a young Iwi girl with a unique bond with King Kong – in the 2021 blockbuster Godzilla vs Kong.
Guided to Kaylee by an assistant director who remembered her performance in the Convo commercial, the film team knew she was perfect for the role.
The movie became a massive global hit, launching Kaylee into the international spotlight.
She reprised her role as Jia in the 2024 sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Her performance in the film earned her a nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor at the 52nd Saturn Awards.
Outside of her film work, Kaylee was a senior student at the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in Austin, Texas.
What was the cause of her death?
Kaylee Hottle reportedly died following a serious car crash in Frederick, Maryland.
Local law enforcement sources confirmed to The U.S. Sun that officers were called to the scene of a fatal crash involving the teenage star, where emergency personnel remained on site.
Her father, Joshua Hottle, first revealed the news of her death during an emotional 23-minute livestream on Facebook.
In the video, presented in American Sign Language (ASL), Joshua shared that he was forced to board an urgent flight to Maryland after receiving a call from officials informing him of the tragic accident.
He explained that authorities notified him that Kaylee’s heart had stopped while she was being transported to the hospital in an ambulance.
Captioning the live broadcast, he wrote: “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.”
Exact details regarding the cause of the collision, the vehicle involved, or whether anyone else was injured remain unconfirmed as emergency services continue their investigation.
Her former school released a statement noting that official information remains “very limited” and urged the public to refrain from speculating on the circumstances while inquiries continue.
Who has paid tribute?
Tributes have poured in from across the deaf community and film industry following news of the young star’s death.
Kaylee’s school released a statement mourning the loss of their student.
It said: “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.
“Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.”
The school added that counseling and support services have been made available for students and staff as they process the loss.
Her father’s livestream received a flood of condolences from friends, family, and members of the deaf community, while fans worldwide have taken to social media to honor Kaylee’s screen representation and express sympathy for her family.