MARYLAND. (THECOUNT) — Kaylee Hottle, 18, the deaf actress known for her role as Jia in the “Godzilla” film franchise, died Tuesday following a vehicle crash in Maryland, according to her family.
Hottle, an Atlanta, Georgia native, gained international recognition for portraying Jia, a young girl who communicated with King Kong through sign language in the blockbuster films “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”
According to her father, Joshua Hottle, the actress was involved in a serious crash early Tuesday morning.
Authorities said Hottle was a passenger in a 1995 Honda Accord when the driver lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and crashed into a roadside ditch.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene and transported Hottle for medical treatment.
Her father said officials later informed him that her heart stopped while she was being transported to the hospital.
Authorities identified Hottle as an occupant of the vehicle involved in the fatal collision. Additional information regarding the driver and any other occupants was not immediately released.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
Born into a multi-generational deaf family, Hottle became an advocate and visible representative of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community through her acting career.
She first gained public attention as a child, appearing in commercials and public service campaigns, including a widely recognized advertisement for the video messaging application Glide.
In 2021, Hottle made her feature-film debut as Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” starring alongside Rebecca Hall. Her character became a central figure in the franchise through a unique bond with King Kong and the use of American Sign Language.
She reprised the role in 2024’s “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” further expanding her profile among movie audiences worldwide.
Beyond the Godzilla franchise, Hottle also appeared in an episode of the rebooted television series “Magnum P.I.,” portraying the character Joon.
News of her death prompted an outpouring of grief from fans of the franchise and members of the deaf community who viewed her success as an inspiration.
Funeral arrangements and additional details regarding memorial services were not immediately available.
The crash investigation remains ongoing.
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