Kaylee Hottle, the acclaimed deaf American actress best known for her role as Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and its 2024 sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, has died at the age of 18.
Hottle passed away in the early hours of Tuesday following a single-vehicle accident in Maryland. According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, she was one of two passengers in a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old man.
The vehicle left a two-lane highway in Ijamsville and struck a culvert. While the driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and the other passenger declined treatment at the scene, Hottle was airlifted to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead. Authorities believe excessive speed contributed to the crash, which is still under investigation.
Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her passing in a video statement on Facebook, using American Sign Language to share the heartbreaking news.
The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, described her death as a tremendous loss in a statement shared on Instagram: “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. Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.”
The school requested privacy for Hottle’s family and urged against speculation regarding the crash. Counseling and support services are being provided to students and staff affected by her death.
Hottle rose to prominence for her portrayal of Jia, Kong’s young deaf companion, in the “Godzilla vs. Kong” franchise. In 2024, she earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor. She also appeared in several commercials and in an episode of the rebooted “Magnum PI” television series.
