Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress 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," was laid to rest on Monday in Kyle, Texas.
Hottle, 18, died on July 21 when the vehicle she was a passenger in veered off the road at high speeds and struck a culvert in rural Maryland. According to reports, neither the driver nor the other male passenger in the 1995 Honda Accord were known to Hottle's parents. Law enforcement officials have indicated that excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash. The investigation has ruled out alcohol impairment as a cause. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and the other passenger did not require medical treatment at the scene.
Hottle's autopsy revealed her cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. The results of a drug test on the driver are still pending, and it remains unclear if criminal charges will be filed.
Memorial services were held at Hottle's alma mater, the Texas School for the Deaf, where a closed casket was displayed alongside a photograph of the aspiring actress. The service program, which featured a photo of Hottle with a soft smile, included a musical prelude with an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. Tributes were delivered by her sister, Jasmine, her father, Joshua, and classmates.
Joshua Hottle, who is also deaf, shared the news of his daughter's passing via a Facebook livestream, describing the difficult journey to claim her body. The Texas School for the Deaf also announced her death on their Facebook page, expressing profound sadness and offering support services to the school community.
Hottle's breakout role was playing Jia, a young girl who could communicate with King Kong through sign language, establishing a unique bond with the character. She told The Daily Moth in 2021 that she and Kong "signed with each other." The process of translating the script into ASL involved Hottle's parents and another individual, presenting some challenges on set due to the nuances of ASL compared to spoken dialogue.
She also taught her castmates ASL, a new experience for many of them. Co-star Alexander Skarsgard praised Hottle's professionalism and expressiveness on camera in a 2021 interview, calling her the star of the film and noting her comfort in front of the camera and her ability to quickly grasp directorial notes.
Hottle, who hailed from an all-deaf family, also appeared on an episode of "Magnum P.I." and participated in commercials for products aimed at the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. She was also featured in a public service announcement for Glide and a commercial for Convo Relay, as well as a project titled "10 Deaf Children: One Powerful Message." Outside of acting, she was a member of her school's track and field team.