‘Godzilla’ Actress Kaylee Hottle Dies at 18 in Maryland Car Crash
Joy Ale
July 23, 2026
‘Godzilla' Actress Kaylee Hottle Dies at 18 in Maryland Car Crash
Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress best known for playing Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, has died at the age of 18 following a car crash in Maryland, authorities confirmed. The crash occurred early Tuesday in Frederick County when the vehicle she was riding in left the roadway and struck a culvert. Investigators believe excessive speed may have been a contributing factor, though the cause remains under investigation.
Hottle was one of two passengers in the vehicle and was airlifted to a nearby trauma center, where she was pronounced dead. The 19-year-old driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while another passenger declined medical treatment.
Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death in an emotional video shared in American Sign Language, describing the loss as devastating while expressing gratitude for the 18 years they shared. He also publicly forgave the driver, urging him not to let the tragedy define the rest of his life. Tributes have since poured in from friends, fans and fellow actors across the entertainment industry.
Born into a multigenerational deaf family, Hottle became a prominent advocate for deaf representation in Hollywood. She made her film debut in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) before reprising the role in the 2024 sequel, earning widespread praise for her performance. She also appeared in Magnum P.I. and had been cast in the upcoming film What Doesn’t Kill Us.
