Kaylee Hottle, 'Godzilla Vs. Kong' Actress, Dies At 18

Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress known for playing Jia in the “Godzilla vs. Kong” films, has died at age 18 after a car crash in Maryland.

How Kaylee Hottle Died

Hottle was a passenger in a single vehicle crash early Tuesday morning in Ijamsville, Maryland. She was taken to a trauma center, where she was later pronounced dead. ABC7 Los Angeles

Details Of The Crash

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 2:52 a.m. to a collision on Windsor Road. A preliminary investigation found that a 1995 Honda Accord, driven by a 19-year-old man from Frederick, left the road and struck a culvert. Investigators believe excessive speed was a contributing factor. Forbes

Two other passengers were in the car at the time. The driver was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening, and one passenger declined medical treatment at the scene. ABC7 Los Angeles

Who Confirmed The News

Hottle’s father, Joshua Hottle, shared the news in a Facebook livestream using American Sign Language. He explained that he was flying from Texas to identify his daughter’s body. The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, also confirmed her death in a statement. The Hollywood Reporter

Kaylee Hottle’s Career In Godzilla vs. Kong

Hottle played Jia, a young deaf character who communicates with Kong through sign language, in “Godzilla vs. Kong” in 2021. She reprised the role three years later in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” Fox News

Before landing the role, Hottle appeared in commercials for the video relay service Convo, which promotes deaf awareness. Her work on those campaigns helped bring her to the attention of casting directors for the “Godzilla” franchise. The Hollywood Reporter

Her Connection To The Deaf Community

Hottle was born on May 1, 2007, in Atlanta, Georgia, into a family with four generations of deaf members on her father’s side. She was a resident of Kyle, Texas, and a senior at the Texas School for the Deaf at the time of her death. ABC7 Los Angeles

Her role as Jia was widely praised for bringing authentic deaf representation to a major film franchise. She used her platform to speak about deaf awareness throughout her acting career. Fox News

Tributes From Co-Stars And Her School

Actor Alexander Skarsgård, who starred alongside Hottle in the “Godzilla” films, previously spoke about her professionalism and how quickly she learned direction on set. Newsweek

The Texas School for the Deaf posted a tribute on social media, expressing sympathy for Hottle’s family, friends, and classmates during this difficult time. The Hollywood Reporter

FAQ: Kaylee Hottle, ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’ Actress, Dies At 18

Q1: Who was Kaylee Hottle?

Kaylee Hottle was a deaf actress best known for playing Jia, an orphaned girl who communicates with Kong through sign language, in “Godzilla vs. Kong” (2021) and its sequel “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” (2024). She was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 1, 2007, and came from an all-deaf family spanning multiple generations. She was a senior at the Texas School for the Deaf at the time of her death.

Q2: How did Kaylee Hottle die?

Hottle died after being involved as a passenger in a single-vehicle car crash early Tuesday morning in Ijamsville, Maryland. According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, a 1995 Honda Accord, driven by a 19-year-old Frederick man, left the roadway and struck a culvert, with excessive speed believed to be a contributing factor. Hottle was taken to a trauma center, where she was later pronounced dead.

Q3: How old was Kaylee Hottle when she died?

She was 18 years old.

Q4: How did Kaylee Hottle get her breakout role in “Godzilla vs. Kong”?

Hottle appeared in a 2017 commercial for the video relay service app Convo, and her ability to convey emotion through sign language caught the attention of the assistant director of “Kong: Skull Island,” who felt she matched the character description for Jia.

Q5: Who confirmed Kaylee Hottle’s death?

Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed the news in an emotional livestream delivered in American Sign Language, explaining that he flew from Texas to Maryland to claim her body. The Texas School for the Deaf also confirmed the news in a statement on social media.

Q6: What was the driver’s condition after the crash?

The driver was transported to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. Two other passengers were also in the car — one declined medical treatment at the scene.

Q7: How has the deaf community responded to her death?

The Texas School for the Deaf paid tribute to her on Facebook, saying, “Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time”. Tributes have also poured in from fans and colleagues who praised her for bringing authentic deaf representation to a major Hollywood franchise.

Q8: What was Kaylee Hottle’s connection to the deaf advocacy community?

Hottle was born into an all-deaf family spanning four generations on her father’s side. She began acting as a child, appearing in commercials and a widely viewed PSA for the video messaging app Glide at age 9, before going on to become a prominent advocate for deaf representation in entertainment.