Deaf Actress Kaylee Hottle, Star of Godzilla Films, Dies at 18 in Car Crash

Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress who played Jia in the hit films Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, has died at age 18. She was killed in a car accident on Tuesday, July 21, in Frederick, Maryland. Her father, Joshua Hottle, shared the news in a Facebook livestream using American Sign Language. Hottle was part of the deaf community and her role in the MonsterVerse series was widely praised for bringing representation to the big screen. In the films, her character Jia was a deaf orphan who forms a special bond with Kong. Hottle's performance was praised by critics and audiences alike. Born deaf, Hottle began acting at a young age. She appeared in a short film before landing her breakout role in Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021. She reprised the role in the sequel released earlier this year. Her work helped shine a light on deaf actors in Hollywood. Friends and fans have expressed shock and sadness at her sudden death. No further details about the accident have been released. Her family has asked for privacy during this difficult time.