Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actor known for playing Jia in the Godzilla film franchise, has died in a car crash in Maryland. She was 18.
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said Hottle was a passenger in a Honda Accord that left the road and hit a culvert in Ijamsville early Tuesday.
The 19-year-old driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and went to hospital. Another passenger declined medical treatment.
Authorities said excessive speed may have contributed to the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
Hottle’s father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death in an emotional American Sign Language video.
He said the family was devastated and that he was travelling from Texas to Maryland to bring his daughter’s body home.
Despite the tragedy, he forgave the driver involved and urged the young person not to let the incident define the rest of their life.
Hottle leaves legacy of deaf representation
Born into a multigenerational deaf family in Atlanta, Hottle became a prominent advocate for deaf representation in mainstream cinema.
She gained global recognition in 2021 after playing Jia in Godzilla vs Kong.
Her character was a deaf orphan who developed a close bond with Kong through sign language.
Hottle reprised the role in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in 2024.
Her performance earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.
She also appeared in commercials, Magnum P.I. and the upcoming film What Doesn’t Kill Us.
Following her death, tributes came from co-stars, filmmakers and the deaf community.
Millie Bobby Brown, Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur were among those who honoured the young actor.
The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, also confirmed her death and announced counselling services for students and staff.
