Godzilla star's cause of death revealed
Actor Kaylee Hottle’s cause of death has been revealed.
The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined that Hottle died from multiple blunt force injuries, People reported. Her death was ruled an accident.
Hottle was a passenger in a 1995 Honda Accord that veered off a highway and struck a culvert in Frederick County, Maryland. Police believed “excessive speed” was a contributing factor in the crash, AFP reported.
Her father, Joshua Hottle, announced her death after she was involved in a car accident and died while being taken to the hospital, according to TMZ.
The young actor, who was deaf and gained international recognition for her role as Jia in the Godzilla film series, died on July 21. She was 18.
Her father announced her death in a Facebook video delivered in sign language.
“I am taking a flight that I never would like to take,” he wrote in the caption, going on to say he was travelling to Maryland to claim his daughter’s body.
Kaylee Hottle died in a car crash at the age of 18. Photo / Getty Images
Hottle rose to international prominence at 12 when she was cast in the 2021 blockbuster Godzilla vs Kong.
She played Jia, an orphaned Iwi girl who shares a unique telepathic and linguistic bond with King Kong, communicating with the monster through sign language, according to a review by the Listener.
She reprised the role in the 2024 sequel, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, where her character’s connection to the “Hollow Earth” and the origins of her tribe became a central plot point.
Her performance was widely praised for its emotional depth; in 2024, she was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.
Rebecca Hall, who played her adopted mother in the films, made a tribute on Instagram.
“Devastated to hear this news,” Hall said, and shared photos of them on set. “My heart goes out to your family. You will be missed Kaylee.”
Hottle was a student at the Texas School for the Deaf, which described her passing as a “tremendous loss”.
Her casting was seen as a significant milestone for deaf representation in major studio tentpoles, as she worked alongside actors such Rebecca Hall and Dan Stevens to bring sign language to a global audience, AFP reported.
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeart app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeart is easy to use and all FREE
