Kaylee Hottle, Deaf Actress Known For ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Dies At 19 In Car Crash

• Kaylee Hottle, the Deaf actress who played Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”, has died at the age of 19. She died following a car crash in Maryland on July 21.

• Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed the news in a Facebook video shared in American Sign Language. He said he was travelling from Texas to Maryland after learning his daughter died while being taken to the hospital.

• Hottle was praised for bringing authentic Deaf representation to the MonsterVerse. She also appeared in “Magnum P.I.” and earned a Saturn Award nomination for her performance in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”

• The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, paid tribute to her, remembering her for her warmth and talent. The school also asked the public to respect her family’s privacy as they mourn her loss.

July 21, () — Kaylee Hottle, the Deaf actress best known for playing Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”, has died following a car crash in Maryland. She was 19.

Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed the news in a Facebook video shared in American Sign Language (ASL) on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. He said authorities informed him that Hottle died while being transported to the hospital.

Joshua Hottle said he was in Texas when he received the call about the crash and later flew to Maryland to identify his daughter’s body.

The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, also confirmed her death and expressed condolences to her family, friends and classmates. The school urged the public not to speculate about the circumstances of the accident and to respect the family’s privacy.

Born into a multigenerational Deaf family, Hottle began her acting career after appearing in a commercial for the ASL communication app Convo.

She made her film debut as Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong” (2021), playing the young Deaf girl who forms a close bond with Kong through sign language. She reprised the role in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” (2024), earning a Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer. She also appeared in a 2021 episode of “Magnum P.I.”

Hottle was widely praised for bringing authentic Deaf representation to one of Hollywood’s biggest film franchises. Co-star Alexander Skarsgård previously praised her professionalism and natural screen presence, saying she impressed the cast and crew throughout filming.

Her performance as Jia became one of the emotional highlights of the MonsterVerse films, leaving a lasting impact on audiences around the world.