Godzilla v Kong actor Kaylee Hottle dies aged 18

Kaylee Hottle, who gained recognition for her significant role in the blockbuster "Godzilla v Kong" and its sequel, has passed away at the age of 18. Her father, Joshua, confirmed the news in a poignant video shared on Facebook, which was delivered in American Sign Language (ASL) as the Hottle family is entirely deaf.

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I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.

Hottle was tragically killed in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland. The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was an alumna, also shared the news, expressing their condolences to her family and friends. "Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time," the school stated.

In "Godzilla v Kong" (2021), Hottle portrayed Jia, a deaf orphan who forms a unique bond with Godzilla. She starred alongside Rebecca Hall, who played her adoptive mother. Both Hall and co-star Alexander Skarsgård made an effort to learn ASL to facilitate direct communication with Hottle on set.

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Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.

Hottle often spoke about her experiences as a deaf actress, emphasizing that deafness is not a barrier. "I think some people see ASL and deafness as a barrier or a gift, but it’s just a language, and deaf is just deaf," she said in one interview. "We can do many things, just not hear. We need more deaf actresses and crew in the industry for people to see and normalize it."

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I think some people see ASL and deafness as a barrier or a gift, but it’s just a language, and deaf is just deaf. We can do many things, just not hear. We need more deaf actresses and crew in the industry for people to see and normalize it.

She reprised her role in the 2024 sequel, "Godzilla v Kong: The New Empire," earning a nomination for best performance by a younger actor at the Saturn Awards. Hottle also appeared in various commercials and an episode of the rebooted "Magnum P.I." television series. "I’m acting in monster movies as a deaf person," she stated in another interview. "I want deaf people to know that they can do that too, just like me. There are no limits."

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I’m acting in monster movies as a deaf person. I want deaf people to know that they can do that too, just like me. There are no limits.