Actress Kaylee Hottle, who gained recognition for her role as Jia in the 2021 film "Godzilla vs. Kong" and its 2024 sequel, "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," has died at the age of 18. Hottle was a passenger in a 2021 Honda Accord when the vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a ditch in Frederick, Maryland, on Tuesday. Speed was reported as a factor in the single-vehicle accident.
Two other individuals were in the car at the time of the crash. The driver, a 19-year-old, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and another passenger did not require medical treatment at the scene. Photos of the vehicle show significant damage to the front of the 1995 Honda Accord, with the hood crumpled and the bumper nearly destroyed.
Hottle's father, Joshua Hottle, a deaf man, confirmed his daughter's death. He shared the news via a Facebook livestream, describing his need to travel from Texas to claim her body. He stated that officials informed him his daughter's heart had stopped on the way to the hospital shortly after he learned of the accident.
The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, also announced her passing on Facebook, expressing profound sadness and offering condolences to her family, friends, and classmates. The school noted that counseling and support services would be available to the TSD community.
Hottle was known for her portrayal of Jia, a young girl who communicates with King Kong using sign language. In a 2021 interview, she described the unique bond her character shared with Kong. The script's American Sign Language (ASL) translation, assisted by Hottle and her parents, presented challenges on set, as ASL's structure differs significantly from spoken language. Hottle also played a role in teaching her castmates ASL and explaining deaf culture.
Alexander Skarsgård, who co-starred with Hottle, praised her performance in 2021, calling her the "star of the movie" and noting her professionalism and expressiveness in front of the camera. He even learned ASL to communicate with her off-set.
Beyond her film roles, Hottle appeared on an episode of "Magnum P.I." and participated in commercials and public service announcements for organizations supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. She was also featured in a project called "10 Deaf Children: One Powerful Message." Outside of acting, she was an athlete on her school's track and field team.