The Godzilla vs. Kong family is paying tribute to late franchise star Kaylee Hottle.
Hottle died in a car crash on Tuesday. She was 18. Her father confirmed her death in American Sign Language in a Tuesday Facebook video.
Hottle, a deaf actress, made her feature debut in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong when she was 9 years old; she played a deaf, orphaned indigenous Iwi girl rescued on Skull Island by Kong. She returned for 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, where her character’s relationship with Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), an anthropological linguist who works on government monster research, is at the forefront of the storyline.
Hall shared a series of photos with Hottle in an Instagram post. She wrote, “Devastated to hear this news. My heart goes out to your family. You will be missed Kaylee.”
Millie Bobby Brown, who starred in Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 2019 and Godzilla vs. Kong, shared a tribute on her Instagram Story. “I’m so devastated to hear this. You will be deeply missed Kaylee,” she wrote atop a photo of the actress on the latter film.
New Empire actor Dan Stevens also took to his Instagram Story, where he shared a tribute photo of Hottle alongside a broken heart emoji.
Legendary Pictures, the production company behind the Godzilla movies, said in a statement on X, “We are devastated by the tragic passing of Kaylee Hottle. Through her unforgettable portrayal of Jia, Kaylee brought extraordinary heart, humanity, and light to Godzilla, Kong, and the Monsterverse. She was a cherished member of our film family, and her kindness, warmth, and remarkable talent touched everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her. Our hearts are with her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her during this unimaginably difficult time.”
CODA Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin wrote on Facebook, “I am absolutely gutted about the passing of sweet Kaylee Hottle. May her beauty and talent be a memory for eternity.”
Read more tributes below.