Godzilla x Kong actor Kaylee Hottle dies in car accident at 18

Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actor best known for playing Jia in Godzilla vs Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, has died at the age of 18. Her father, Joshua Hottle, announced the news in a Facebook livestream in American Sign Language and later confirmed to TMZ that she died in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland.

The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, also confirmed her death in a statement shared on social media. Hottle and her father were both deaf and belonged to a multi-generational deaf family.

"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," the school said.

It added, "Our hearts are with Kaylee's family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time. At this time, we have very limited information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kaylee's family and refrain from sharing or speculating about the circumstances surrounding the accident."

Hottle made her acting debut as Jia in 2021's Godzilla vs Kong. Her character, a deaf orphan who shares a unique bond with Kong, became one of the emotional anchors of the film. She reprised the role in 2024's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, earning a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.