Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress best known for playing Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, he’s dead. He was 18 years old.Hottle died after a car accident in Frederick, Maryland, on Tuesday, July 21. His father, Joshua Hottle, announced the news on a Facebook livestream in American Sign Language and later confirmed his death to TMZ.According to his father, emergency personnel treated the young player at the scene before taking him to hospital. However, it is said that his heart stopped when he was being carried, and the doctors failed to treat him. Officials have not released details on the circumstances of the crash.
Texas School for the Deaf confirms the death of Kaylee Hottle
The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a principal, confirmed his death in a statement shared on social media.“It is with great sadness that we share the tragic news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland,” the school said.“Our hearts go out to Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this very difficult time. At this time, we have very little information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kaylee’s family and refrain from sharing or thinking about the events of this accident.”Both Hottle and his father were deaf and came from a family of hearing impaired people.
Kaylee Hottle rose to fame as Jia in the MonsterVerse
Kaylee Hottle made her big Hollywood debut in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, where he played Jia, a deaf orphan who forms a special bond with Kong. This character is taken by Dr. Ilene Andrews, played by Rebecca Hall, became one of the main inspirations for the film.He reprized the role in 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, to critical acclaim from audiences. His performance also earned him a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor.News of Kaylee Hottle’s death spread quickly on social media, with fans of the MonsterVerse franchise and the deaf paying tribute to the young actress. He is remembered by many for bringing deaf representation to Hollywood’s big screen and for inspiring deaf youth around the world.