Shocked by the death of Kaylee Hottle, actress of odzGodzilla: they investigate the causes of the accident

Kaylee Hottle, a deaf actress known for her role in two Godzilla films, died in a car crash in Maryland early Tuesday morning, according to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. She was 18 years old. Hottle was one of two passengers in the vehicle when it left the road and collided with a storm drain near Ijamsville before 3 a.m. The driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the other passenger declined medical attention, as stated in a press release from the sheriff's office. Investigators believe speeding played a role in the accident and are still examining its causes. Hottle was a native signer of American Sign Language, and her family members were also deaf. Her parents, Joshua and Ketsi Hottle, shared emotional social media posts about her passing. In a video posted from the airport, Joshua expressed his grief in American Sign Language, saying, “The mother and four siblings of Kaylee are devastated. They are together at home, mourning. I am heading to Maryland to bring Kaylee’s body back home.” He added, “I am very grateful for the 18 years we shared, and I wish we had more time.” According to his account, Hottle’s heart stopped before reaching the hospital after being flown from the scene. He also reached out to the driver, described by the sheriff’s office as a 19-year-old man from Frederick. “I have forgiven you,” Joshua said in a message. “Don’t let this incident ruin the rest of your life.” Hottle portrayed a deaf orphan named Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and its sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, forming a special bond with the creature through sign language. Millie Bobby Brown, her co-star in Godzilla, expressed deep sorrow on Instagram, writing, “It breaks my heart to hear this. We will miss you, Kaylee.” Alexander Skarsgård, another co-star who learned sign language to communicate with Hottle, praised her professionalism and adaptability during a 2021 interview with Junkee. He noted how impressed he and others were by her ability to quickly follow the director’s cues. In a 2024 interview with Associated Press, Hottle spoke through an interpreter about her experience entering the genre. She admitted she hadn’t watched monster movies before being cast in Godzilla, so her father helped her understand the genre. “I admire many people, but especially my parents and sisters,” she said. She also mentioned concerns about returning to her “normal life” after filming the first movie. “Yes, people recognize me at school, but it isn’t as bad as I thought,” she said. Hottle previously appeared in an episode of the TV series Magnum P.I. in 2021 and was credited in the upcoming film What Doesn’t Kill Us. Actress Alaqua Cox, her co-star in that film and also a deaf performer, wrote on Instagram, “I’m absolutely shattered by the death of sweet Kaylee Hottle. May her beauty and talent live on forever.” Other notable deaf actors also shared messages of mourning online. Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin wrote, “I’m completely broken by the passing of the lovely Kaylee Hottle. May her beauty and talent endure forever.”