Kaylee Hottle, deaf actress from 'Godzilla', dies at 18 in car crash

Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress known for playing Jia in the "Godzilla" franchise, died early Tuesday morning in a single-car crash in Ijamsville, Maryland. She was 18 years old. The accident occurred around 2:52 a.m. on July 21, 2026, when the vehicle — a 1995 Honda Accord — left the road and struck a culvert. Speed is believed to have been a contributing factor, but the investigation remains open Source: AP.

The accident

Hottle was a passenger in the car, which was driven by a 19-year-old man from Frederick. He was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while another passenger declined medical treatment Source: CNN. Emergency responders requested a sign-language interpreter upon arrival, as Hottle was unconscious but still alive. She was airlifted to a trauma center, but her heart stopped before reaching the hospital Source: La Vanguardia. Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death in a Facebook video in American Sign Language, expressing gratitude for her 18 years and stating he had forgiven the driver Source: El Confidencial.

The reaction

Tributes poured in from co-stars and the deaf community. Millie Bobby Brown wrote on Instagram, "Te vamos a extrañar muchísimo, Kaylee" Source: CNN. Alexander Skarsgård, who learned ASL for the films, praised her professionalism. The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, offered counseling services and called her death "a tremendous loss" Source: AP. Legendary Pictures, the production company, issued a statement calling her "a beloved member of our film family" Source: Euronews.

Her legacy

Hottle, who was born into a multigenerational deaf family, debuted at age 9 in commercials. She landed her breakout role as Jia in "Godzilla vs. Kong" (2021), a deaf orphan who communicates with Kong via sign language, a role she reprised in "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" (2024). She was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor. At the time of her death, she had an upcoming film, "What Doesn't Kill Us", alongside Alaqua Cox Source: El Confidencial.