21.07.2026 20:50
Sad news came from young actress Kaylee Hottle, who gained worldwide fame when she was just 13 years old. Hottle, remembered for her role as Jia in the Godzilla vs. Kong series, died at the age of 18 in a traffic accident in Maryland.
Deaf actress Kaylee Hottle, known for her role as Jia in the films Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, passed away at age 18 in a traffic accident in the U.S. state of Maryland. Her father, Joshua Hottle, announced the tragic news, and the young actress's death has caused great sorrow in the cinema world.
FATHER ANNOUNCES THE TRAGIC NEWS
According to reports in the U.S. press, Kaylee Hottle was seriously injured in a traffic accident that occurred in the Frederick area of Maryland. The young actress was taken to a hospital but could not be saved despite all interventions.
Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed his daughter's death in an emotional video shared on social media using American Sign Language (ASL). It was stated that the family had set out for Maryland to handle funeral arrangements.
KNOWN FOR JIA CHARACTER WHO COMMUNICATED WITH KING KONG VIA SIGN LANGUAGE
Born into a family with multiple generations of deaf individuals, Kaylee Hottle began her acting career in commercials. She made her major breakthrough playing Jia, a character who communicates with King Kong through sign language, in the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong.
Hottle also appeared in the 2024 film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, reprising the same role. She received widespread acclaim for her performance and became a significant figure in promoting greater representation of deaf individuals in the film industry at a young age.
CINEMA WORLD IN MOURNING
Following Kaylee Hottle's sudden death, many people, including her fans, colleagues, and the Texas School for the Deaf where she studied, have shared condolence messages. Despite her brief career, the young actress is remembered as one of the figures who increased the visibility of deaf actors in Hollywood.
Kaylee Hottle was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Young Actor Performance for her roles in the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong and its 2024 sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.