Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actor best known for playing Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla x Kong: A New Empire,” has died. She is 18 years old.Hotl died on Tuesday, July 21, following a car accident in Frederick, Maryland. Her father, Joshua Hottle, announced the news in American Sign Language on Facebook Live and later confirmed her death to TMZ.Emergency crews treated the young actor at the scene and she was taken to hospital, according to her father. However, her heart reportedly stopped during transport and doctors were unable to revive her. Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances of the crash.
Texas School for the Deaf Kelly Hottle confirmed to have passed away
The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottel attended, also confirmed her death in a statement shared on social media.“It is with deep 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 said.“Our hearts go out to Kelly’s family, friends, classmates and everyone who knew and loved her during this extremely difficult time. At this time, we have very limited information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kelly’s family and not share or speculate about the circumstances surrounding the accident.”Hottel and her father are both deaf and part of a multi-generational deaf family.
Kaylee Hottle shot to fame playing Jia in MonsterVerse
Kaylee Hottle made her Hollywood breakthrough in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, in which she played Jia, a deaf-mute orphan who forms a special bond with Kong. The character is adopted by Dr. Erin Andrews, played by Rebecca Hall, and becomes one of the film’s emotional anchors.She reprized the role in 2024’s “Godzilla x Kong: New Empire” and won widespread acclaim from the audience. Her performance also earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Young Actor.News of Kelly Hottle’s death spread quickly on social media, with fans of the MonsterVerse franchise and members of the deaf community paying tribute to the young actor. Many remember her for bringing authentic deaf representation to major Hollywood series and inspiring young deaf performers around the world.
