Kaylee Hottle, Deaf Actress From ‘Godzilla vs. Kong,’ Dies at 18

Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress who played Jia in the blockbuster films “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” died at age 18 in a car accident in Maryland. The news was confirmed by her father, Joshua Hottle, and reported by multiple outlets including The Hollywood Reporter.

Her father announced the news in a Facebook livestream using American Sign Language. He captioned the video, “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take,” indicating he was flying to Maryland to claim his daughter’s body, according to TheWrap.

What happened to Kaylee Hottle?

Hottle died in a single-vehicle accident in Frederick, Maryland, as reported by Deadline, citing the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. The preliminary investigation indicated the crash occurred in the early morning hours. She was a passenger in the vehicle. The driver, a 19-year-old man, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

How did the community react?

The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, issued a statement on social media. “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,” the school wrote. The statement asked for privacy and respect for the family.

What was Kaylee Hottle known for?

Hottle was best known for playing Jia, a deaf, orphaned girl who forms a unique bond with Kong through sign language in the MonsterVerse films. She made her feature film debut in 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong” at the age of 9 and reprised the role in the 2024 sequel. Her performance in the sequel earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.

She was discovered for the role after appearing in a 2017 commercial for the video relay service Convo. An assistant director from “Kong: Skull Island” saw the ad and recommended her for the part. In a March 2024 interview with the Houston Chronicle, Hottle explained her process. “I would read the script, and [director] Adam [Wingard] would explain to me exactly what he wanted me to do. And I also had my parents’ support and translation of the script, and I just brought it to life.”

Her co-star Alexander Skarsgård praised her professionalism in a 2021 interview, noting her comfort in front of the camera and ability to quickly take direction. Hottle came from a multi-generational deaf family and was fluent in American Sign Language. In addition to her film work, she appeared in a 2021 episode of “Magnum P.I.” and was an athlete on her school’s track-and-field team.