Kaylee Hottle, the rising teenage actor known for her appearances in the Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) movie and its sequel, has died in a single-car accident.
Hottle died early Tuesday morning in Maryland, her father Joshua Hottle confirmed to TMZ. He later spoke about the incident using American Sign Language (ASL) during a 23-minute Facebook Livestream.
“I am taking a flight that I never would like to take,” he added in a caption, explaining he will travel from Texas to collect Hottle’s body.
Hottle, who was also deaf, had only three film credits, but appeared alongside movie heavyweights including Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, and Rebecca Hall. Here’s everything we know about her acting career and the initial findings from the deadly accident.
Hottle appeared in two Godzilla and Kong movies
According to Variety, Hottle was born in Atlanta on May 1, 2007, which would make her 19 years old at the time of the accident. However, multiple outlets, including the initial TMZ report, have identified her as 18.
Hottle was best known for her role in Godzilla vs. Kong and the 2024 sequel Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire. Her character Jia is a deaf orphan who forms a close bond with giant primate Kong.
In a 2021 interview with The Daily Moth, Hottle detailed the challenges of interacting with the fully computer-generated giant.
“Sometimes there would be a laser light or a mark for me to look at. With Jurassic Park, I saw they used actors to act as dinosaurs and then they edited it, but with this one there was nothing. It was just a green screen with laser lights or these cross shapes. One of the hardest parts was trying to pretend there was a bond there and signing to someone when there was nothing there.”
According to her IMDb profile, Hottle also appeared in a 2021 episode of the TV series Magnum P.I.
Multiple generations of Hottle’s family are deaf
According to a 2024 Houston Chronicle feature, Hottle attended the Texas School for the Deaf. She was in her senior year at the school. Both of her parents are deaf, and four generations on father Joshua’s side of the family include deaf individuals.
Hottle communicated through American Sign Language, and cited the Convo video platform—which provides on-demand interpreters for in-person meetings and video calls—with helping her collaborate on film sets. She even appeared in a commercial for the company, which helped kick-start her acting career.
The actor spoke about the process of teaching her Godzilla vs. Kong castmates how to sign with The Daily Moth. “They had never interacted with a deaf person before. I had to explain how to sign and use facial expressions,” she explained. “That was the hard part, but when they picked up on it, it was fine. I didn’t really have challenges, they were very accommodating. Some of the workers learned how to sign.”
Police confirmed Hottle died in a single-vehicle crash
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office has released preliminary information about the deadly accident involving Hottle.
The office said deputies were called to a single-vehicle crash around 2:52 a.m. in Ijamsville, Maryland. Per NBC 11 in Baltimore, the initial investigation indicated an unidentified 19-year-old male was driving a Honda Accord when it left the road on the right side and struck a culvert—which allows water to flow underneath roads and embankments. Excessive speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.
The driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while a second passenger was unharmed. Hottle was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Texas School for the Deaf posted a tribute to Hottle on its Facebook page and asked that people refrain from speculating about details of the accident. “Our hearts are with Kaylee's family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time,” it read.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
