Godzilla Vs. Kong Actress Dies at 18
The Hollywood Reporter • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Kaylee Hottle, an 18-year-old deaf actress known for her role as Jia in the Godzilla vs. Kong franchise, died in a car crash in Maryland on Tuesday morning, as confirmed by her father.
- The fatal single-vehicle collision occurred around 2:52 a.m. in Ijamsville, Maryland, with excessive speed believed to be a contributing factor; Hottle was a passenger and pronounced dead at a trauma center.
- Hottle made her film debut at age 9 in the 2021 Godzilla vs. Kong movie and reprised her role in the 2024 sequel, where her character communicated with Kong using American Sign Language (ASL), creating poignant moments.
- She was discovered after appearing in a 2017 commercial for the video relay service app Convo, and her ability to convey emotion through sign language led to her casting in the franchise.
- Tributes from the Texas School for the Deaf and co-star Alexander Skarsgard highlighted her professionalism, expressive acting, and comfort in front of the camera despite her young age and deafness.
