Kaylee Hottle has died, Fox News Digital can confirm.
The 18-year-old deaf actress, known for her role in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” died Tuesday morning in a car accident.
TMZ reported that her father revealed the crash occurred in Maryland during a nearly 23-minute livestream, explaining in American Sign Language that he flew from Texas to claim Kaylee’s body.
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Joshua Hottle said he was told Kaylee had been involved in a car accident. Officials later informed him that her heart stopped on the way to the hospital.
Before landing her first feature film role, Kaylee appeared in commercials and advocacy projects promoting deaf awareness.
A Virginia native born into a multigenerational deaf family, she quickly became a rising talent and an advocate for greater representation in entertainment.
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Hottle landed the role of Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong” in 2021.
She reprised the role three years later in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” reuniting with the franchise as Jia’s connection to Kong remained central to the story. The sequel expanded her character’s role and further showcased her signing throughout the film.
Her authentic performance as Jia, a deaf girl who shares a unique bond with Kong, earned widespread praise and helped increase representation of deaf actors in major Hollywood productions.
Though her acting career had only recently begun, she left a lasting impact through her performances and her advocacy for greater inclusion in Tinseltown.
