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Who was Kaylee Hottle? Some facts to know about the late 'Godzilla' actress
Kaylee Hottle, best known for her appearance in two “Godzilla” film died in a car accident on Tuesday.
According to a police report, the 18-year-old actress and another passenger were in a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old man when it veered off a two-lane highway and struck a culvert.
But who exactly is Kaylee Hottle? Get to know her with these facts below.
1. She was deaf
Kaylee was born deaf, with deafness spanning four generations on her father's side of the family. She communicates primarily through American Sign Language (ASL).
On Instagram, Kaylee also shared a video of herself communicating with her fans using ASL.
2. She was an athlete
Kaylee was a senior and student-athlete at the Texas School for the Deaf, where she excelled in basketball, swimming, and track and field.
During the 2024–2025 school year, she was recognized as the school's Student-Athlete of the Month in recognition of her outstanding performance and dedication both in the classroom and in sports.
Following her death, her school posted a tribute to the late actress on social media, saying "It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland."
3. She was of Korean descent
Kaylee was half Korean. According to The Korea Herald, she was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a Korean mother and an American father who is also deaf.
4. She made her acting debut at nine years old
Kaylee made her acting debut at just 9 years old in the commercial for the video relay service Convo in 2017.
In 2021, she landed a role in the blockbuster film “Godzilla vs. Kong,” portraying Jia, a deaf orphan from Skull Island's Iwi tribe who shares a unique bond with Kong through sign language.
She returned to the role in the 2024 sequel,” Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”
Her performance earned her a nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Performer in a Film at the 2024 Saturn Awards. — LA, GMA News
