Godzilla vs. Kong Star Kaylee Hottle Passes Away At 18

Kaylee Hottle, an 18-year-old deaf actor best known for playing Jia in the 2021 movie Godzilla vs Kong and its sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024), passed away in a car crash on Tuesday (July 21).

Kaylee's father, Joshua, shared the news of her demise in a Facebook livestream delivered in American Sign Language (ASL), as the Hottle family is all deaf. The video is titled, “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.”

Kaylee Hottle dies in car accident

Joshua said that Kaylee's car accident happened in Frederick, Maryland, and he was flying from Texas to claim her body. Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle studied, also confirmed the news in a statement on social media.

“Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time,” it read.

Tributes pour in for Kaylee

Hottle's character in Godzilla vs Kong was a deaf orphan who forms a bond with Kong. Rebecca Hall played her adopted mother.

Hall is “devastated” to hear the news. She shared pics of both on set. “My heart goes out to your family. You will be missed Kaylee,” she wrote on Instagram.

Hall and fellow co-star Alexander Skarsgård both learned ASL so they could communicate directly with Hottle on set.

“I think some people see ASL and deafness as a barrier or a gift, but it’s just a language, and deaf is just deaf,” Hottle said in an interview, according to The Guardian. “We can do many things, just not hear. We need more deaf actresses and crew in the industry for people to see and normalize it.”

Hottle received a nomination for best performance by a younger actor in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire at the Saturn awards.

Kaylee's co-star Millie Bobby Brown also paid tribute today on social media. “I’m so devastated to hear this,” she wrote. “You will be deeply missed Kaylee.”