Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress known for her role as Jia in the recent "Godzilla" films, has died in a car crash in the US state of Maryland. She was 18.
According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, the crash occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday in Ijamsville when the vehicle carrying Hottle and two others veered off the road and struck a culvert.
Hottle was airlifted from the scene but died before reaching the hospital. Authorities said the 19-year-old driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while the third passenger declined medical treatment. Investigators believe excessive speed was a contributing factor, and the crash remains under investigation.
A native user of American Sign Language (ASL), Hottle came from a deaf family. Her parents, Joshua and Ketsi Hottle, shared emotional messages on social media expressing their grief.
Her father said the family was devastated by the loss and thanked supporters for their sympathy. He also publicly forgave the driver involved in the crash, urging him not to let the tragedy define the rest of his life.
Hottle gained international recognition for portraying Jia, an orphaned girl who communicates with Kong through sign language, in "Godzilla vs. Kong" (2021) and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" (2024). Her performance earned praise for bringing authentic deaf representation to a major Hollywood franchise.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and members of the entertainment industry.
Her "Godzilla" co-star Millie Bobby Brown wrote on Instagram that she was devastated by the news and would deeply miss Hottle.
Actor Alexander Skarsgård, who learned ASL while filming with Hottle, had previously praised her professionalism and ability to quickly adapt to the director's guidance.
In a 2024 interview with The Associated Press, Hottle said she had not been familiar with monster movies before being cast in the franchise and credited her father for introducing her to the genre. She also described her parents and sisters as her greatest role models.
Besides the "Godzilla" films, Hottle appeared in a 2021 episode of "Magnum P.I." and was set to appear in the upcoming film "What Doesn't Kill Us."
Her co-star in the upcoming film, deaf actress Alaqua Cox, expressed heartbreak over Hottle's death, while Academy Award-winning actors Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur also paid tribute, remembering her talent and urging people to cherish their loved ones.
The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle studied, announced her death and said counseling and support services would be made available to students and staff as the school community mourns her loss.