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Kaylee Hottle, deaf actress from Godzilla vs. Kong, dies at 18 in Maryland car crash
Hollywood honors groundbreaking deaf actress Kaylee Hottle after her sudden passing at age eighteen
Hollywood is mourning the loss of trailblazing deaf actress Kaylee Hottle, who died at the age of 18 following a tragic car crash in Maryland. Her father, Jonathan Hottle, shared the heartbreaking news during a July 21 Facebook livestream using American Sign Language. He revealed that authorities contacted him after her heart stopped on the way to the hospital, leading him to take a flight to claim his daughter's body.
Kaylee came from a proud family spanning four generations of deaf individuals on her father's side. She made her big screen debut as Gia in the 2021 blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong, playing a deaf character who connects with Kong through sign language. After being discovered on a commercial set, she later returned to the role in the 2024 sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, leaving behind an inspiring legacy for young actors everywhere.
