'Godzilla' franchise star Kaylee Hottle cause of death revealed

Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress best known for portraying Jia in the Godzilla film franchise, has died at the age of 18 following a car accident in Maryland.

According to TMZ, Hottle's father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed that his daughter was killed in a crash early Saturday morning. He shared the heartbreaking news during a live stream in American Sign Language, revealing that he had flown from Texas to Maryland after learning of the tragedy.

Joshua said he was initially informed that Kaylee had been involved in a serious car accident before authorities later told him that her heart stopped while she was being transported to the hospital.

Born into a multigenerational deaf family, Hottle began acting as a child. She first appeared in commercials, including a public service announcement for the video messaging app Glide, widely used within the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Hottle rose to international fame in 2021 when she starred as Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong. Her character formed a unique bond with Kong, communicating through sign language while living on Skull Island with Dr. Ilene Andrews, played by Rebecca Hall.

She reprised the role in 2024's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, earning praise from fans for bringing heart and authenticity to the blockbuster franchise.

In addition to her film work, Hottle appeared in an episode of the Magnum P.I. reboot, portraying a character named Joon.

Her sudden death has left fans and the entertainment community mourning the loss of a talented young actress whose performances helped bring greater representation for the deaf community on screen.

Kaylee Hottle was 18 at the time of her death.