Kaylee Hottle, Godzilla vs. Kong Star, Dead

Hollywood is mourning the loss of a trailblazing young star.

Kaylee Hottle—a deaf actress known for her role as Jia in the Godzilla franchise—has died, her father Jonathan Hottle confirmed in a July 21 Facebook livestream. She was 19. 

Alongside a video of Jonathan explaining the tragic circumstances in American Sign Language, he added in his video’s caption, “I am taking a flight I never would like to take.”

In ASL, Jonathan explained that his daughter was killed after getting in a car crash in Maryland in the early hours of July 21. Authorities contacted Jonathan shortly after to confirm Kaylee’s heart had stopped en route to the hospital from the crash site. 

Jonathan explained he was at the airport, about to fly from Texas to claim his daughter’s body. 

Under his post, several of their family’s loved ones shared their condolences and emphasized the impact Kaylee had made in her life and career. 

“Kaylee was beyond her years,” one person wrote under Jonathan’s post, “and has a heart for everyone. I pray for your family to get through this most difficult time and I know Kaylee will always be with you all in spirit.”