I was really saddened to hear about Kaylee Hottle’s passing at just 18 years old. I first noticed her in “Godzilla vs. Kong” – she played a young, deaf orphan with this incredible connection to Godzilla, and it was such a moving performance. She reprised that role in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” too. It’s a huge loss, and I’ll always remember the warmth she brought to those films.
According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Hannah Hottle passed away Tuesday morning when the vehicle she was riding in left the road and hit a culvert near Ijamsville, Maryland. Her father, Joshua Hottle, shared news of her death on Facebook.
He shared a video explaining he was traveling from Texas under heartbreaking circumstances. In the caption, he wrote that it was a flight he wished he didn’t have to take – he was going to identify and bring home the body of a loved one, as reported by TMZ.
The Texas School for the Deaf also addressed the actor’s death on social media.
We are deeply saddened to share that Kaylee Hottle, a senior at TSD, tragically died in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland, yesterday. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, classmates, and all who loved her during this very difficult time.
Entertainment & Arts
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Kaylee Hottle first gained recognition in the 2021 film “Godzilla vs. Kong,” where she made her movie debut as Jia, a young orphan connected to Kong. Jia is the last of the Iwi tribe from Skull Island and shares a special bond with the giant ape who protects it. Rebecca Hall played Dr. Ilene Andrews, Jia’s adoptive mother and a scientist studying Kong. Hottle returned to play Jia in the 2024 sequel, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”
Honestly, after seeing the film, I immediately knew it would be something special. I was telling everyone how excited I was! It features a young deaf girl, and her story felt incredibly inspiring – really relatable for so many people. Seeing her go through this journey is just… amazing.
Born in Atlanta, the actor came from a completely deaf family, with four generations of deaf relatives on her father’s side, as noted by IMDb.
According to officials, Hottle was a passenger in a 1995 Honda Accord when it crashed. The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating, but they believe the driver was going too fast, which likely caused the accident.
Millie Bobby Brown, known for her role in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” was one of many who expressed their sadness after hearing about Hottle’s passing.
I was really heartbroken to hear about Kaylee Hottle’s passing. I saw her photo as Jia on my Instagram feed, and it just hit me hard. She’s going to be missed so much by everyone who loved her work.
Oscar winner Marlee Matlin shared her sadness on Instagram about the death of Kaylee Hottle, describing her as a beautiful and talented person. Matlin felt honored to have met Kaylee last year and encouraged others to be kind and to really listen to their children. She suggested using the sign for ‘I love you’ – 🤟🏼 – as a special way to say goodbye. 🩵
2026-07-22 01:31