Deaf Actress Kelly Hueter, 18, Dies in Car Crash After 'Godzilla' Films

Actress Kelly Hueter, who portrayed the deaf orphan Jia and formed a bond with the giant ape Kong in "Godzilla vs. Kong" and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," has died at the age of 18. Her passing was confirmed by her father via American Sign Language and by her school, the Texas School for the Deaf.

Hueter died in a car accident in Maryland. Her father was traveling from Texas to handle her funeral arrangements. The Texas School for the Deaf expressed profound sorrow in a statement, noting that information about the accident was limited and urging respect for the family's privacy.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Hueter came from a multi-generational deaf family and was fluent in American Sign Language. She began her acting career through advertisements promoting the deaf community and appeared in promotional content for services like Convo, a video sign language interpretation service. She was also nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Young Actor for her role in "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire."

In the films, Hueter's character Jia communicated with Kong through sign language, making her a unique and memorable presence. Off-screen, she was an athlete who competed in track and field for her school. Her promising career in both acting and sports was cut short by her untimely death, leaving fans and the film industry in shock.

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We are heartbroken to share the devastating news that one of our TSD seniors, Kelly Hueter, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland.