Kaylee Hottle, an actress known for her role as Jia in the films ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ and ‘Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire,’ has died at the age of 18. The cause of death was a car crash, according to multiple reports.
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office in Maryland responded to the crash scene at approximately 2:50 a.m. local time. While a 19-year-old driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, the condition of a second passenger was not immediately detailed, and Hottle's death was confirmed. The Sheriff's Office has not released further details about the circumstances of the collision.
Hottle, who was deaf, played Jia, a young orphan who communicates with King Kong, in the 2021 film ‘Godzilla vs. Kong.’ She reprised the role in the 2024 sequel. Her performance in the first film earned her a Saturn Award nomination for best younger performer. She also studied at the Texas School for the Deaf.
Warner Bros., the distributor of the ‘MonsterVerse’ films, shared a tribute to Hottle on social media. The Texas School for the Deaf also issued a statement expressing profound sadness and offering condolences to her family and friends. The school urged respect for the family's privacy and cautioned against speculation regarding the crash.