Kaylee Hottle, who appeared in two “Godzilla” movies, died on Monday in a car accident in Frederick, Md.
Her death was reported by her father, Joshua Hottle, and was confirmed by the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, where she was a senior. Mr. Hottle, using American Sign Language, signed in a video on social media that his daughter was 18 when she died.
Kaylee Hottle was deaf, as were other members of her family extending several generations back on her father’s side.
Her film debut was in “Godzilla vs. Kong” in 2021; she played a young deaf girl who communicates with King Kong through sign language.
One of her fellow actors in the film, Alexander Skarsgard, told the news outlet Junkee that year that she “steals the movie.”
“It’s her first movie,” Mr. Skarsgard said. “It’s fascinating how comfortable she is in front of the camera and how quickly she takes notes from the director.”
Her character’s special bond with King Kong continued in the sequel, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” in 2024. She also appeared in an episode of “Magnum, P.I.”
Her father said after her death that she had a strong love for the deaf community and that she had stayed humble even after her acting success.
Roles can be scarce for deaf actors, and Ms. Hottle was aware of that.
“I’d like to see more deaf, young actresses get motivated when they see me on screen, and hopefully they’ll have a chance in Hollywood as well,” she told The Houston Chronicle in 2024.
Evan Reynolds contributed reporting and Kirsten Noyes contributed research.
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