‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ child star Kaylee Hottle dead at 18 after tragic car accident By Riley Cardoza

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“Godzilla vs. Kong” star Kaylee Hottle died in a tragic car accident early Tuesday morning.

She was 18.

The deaf actress’ dad, Joshua Hottle, shared the tragedy with TMZ after posting a tearful Facebook livestream.

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Kaylee Hottle (pictured above in March 2024) died early Tuesday morning.Getty Images
Kaylee Hottle as Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong.
The “Godzilla vs. Kong” star (pictured above in the 2021 movie) was 18.He explained in ASL that the fatal crash occurred in Maryland.

Joshua, who was in Texas when he got a call from authorities about the collision, signed that he received a follow-up call stating his daughter’s heart had stopped en route to the hospital.

He told the outlet he was flying to Maryland to claim the teenager’s body.

Joshua referenced this in his 23-minute long Facebook announcement, captioned, “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.”

Kaylee Hottle from Godzilla vs. Kong.
The deaf actress’ dad shared the tragedy in a tearful Facebook livestream.©HBO Max/Courtesy Everett Collection
Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle on set for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
He told TMZ that Hottle (pictured above with Rebecca Hall) was in a fatal collision in Maryland.©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Social media users shared their support in the comments, raving over Joshua’s “brilliant and kind” kid.

Kaylee was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2007 but raised in Austin, where she attended the Texas School for the Deaf.

She started acting at 9 years old.

Her first role was a commercial for Glide, a video messaging app popular in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Kaylee brought her talents to the big screen in 2021 when she played Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong.”

Kaylee Hottle as Jia, a young girl with a headband, standing in the rain and looking up, with blue lights in the background.
The teen’s heart stopped en route to the hospital, Joshua Hottle said.©HBO Max/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kaylee Hottle, a young woman, in a navy blue sweater and light blue jeans, walking outside a building.
He did not provide further details on Kaylee’s passing.GC Images

Her character, notably, resides on Skull Island with Dr. Ilene Andrews, played by Rebecca Hall, and communicates with King Kong via sign language.

Hall and Alexander Skarsgård made headlines at the time for learning ASL to communicate with her on set — and gushed that she “steals the movie” from her fellow cast members.

“It’s her first movie,” Skarsgård raved to Junkee. “It’s fascinating how comfortable she is in front of the camera and how quickly she takes notes from the director Adam [Wingard].

“He’ll explain something and she’ll be like ‘got it, got it’ then she’ll just do it and everyone’s like, ‘The f–k?’” the actor, 49, added. “She’s so professional and … there’s so much going on on her face. Her expression and the subtleties of that is fascinating to watch.”

Kaylee, who went “with the flow” on set, explained to the outlet through an interpreter why “it’s important having deaf actors plays deaf characters.”

Kaylee Hottle holding a Kong doll wrapped in grass from Godzilla vs. Kong.
She is best known for playing Jia in the “Godzilla” franchise in 2021 and 2024.©HBO Max/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kaylee Hottle as Jia, looking up with her hand raised.
Kaylee has previously said “it’s important having deaf actors plays deaf characters.”©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

She noted, “Deaf people are aware of their own language and they’re more familiar with the culture.”

In 2024, Kaylee reprised her role as Jia in “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.”

Her other notable parts include playing Joon in a Season 4 episode of “Magnum P.I.” in 2021.

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