Kaylee Hottle, the young actor best known for playing Jia in the Godzilla and King Kong MonsterVerse films, has died at the age of 18 following a car accident in Maryland, United States.
According to reports, the news was confirmed by her father, Joshua Hottle, who shared the tragic update during a live stream conducted in American Sign Language (ASL).
Kaylee earned widespread recognition for her portrayal of Jia, a deaf girl who forms a unique bond with Kong, and was celebrated for bringing authentic deaf representation to mainstream Hollywood films.
Kaylee Hottle dies in reported car accident
According to TMZ, Kaylee Hottle was involved in a serious road accident in Maryland earlier in the day. Her father, Joshua Hottle, reportedly travelled from Texas to Maryland after learning about the crash.
He said officials informed him that Kaylee suffered cardiac arrest while being transported to hospital. Despite medical efforts, she could not be revived.
Further details surrounding the accident have not been released.
Who was Kaylee Hottle?
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Kaylee Hottle came from a multi-generational deaf family.
She began acting at a young age, initially appearing in television commercials and public service campaigns. One of her early appearances was in a public service announcement for Glide, a video messaging application widely used within the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Her performances were widely praised for authentically representing the deaf community on screen.
Breakthrough role in Godzilla vs. Kong
Kaylee’s breakthrough came in 2021 when she starred as Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong.
Her character, a young deaf girl, shares a powerful emotional connection with Kong, communicating with him through sign language. The role received praise from audiences and critics alike for its heartfelt portrayal and meaningful representation.
She reprised the role in 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, once again appearing alongside the iconic MonsterVerse characters.
Television appearance
In addition to her film career, Kaylee appeared in the reboot of Magnum P.I.
She portrayed Joon in an episode of the show’s fourth season, adding another notable credit to her growing acting career.
Remembered for championing deaf representation
Although her acting career was relatively short, Kaylee Hottle became an inspiring figure for many viewers, particularly within the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Her performances helped bring greater visibility to deaf representation in major Hollywood productions and introduced sign language to audiences around the world.
She is survived by her family.
Inputs from agencies
