The 18-year-old performer, known for playing Jia in two MonsterVerse films, was a passenger in a car that left the road.
IJAMSVILLE, MD — Kaylee Hottle, the Deaf actor known for playing Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong” and its sequel, died after a single-vehicle crash in Maryland early Tuesday, authorities said. She was 18.
Hottle was one of two passengers in a car that left the road and struck a culvert in Ijamsville shortly before 3 a.m., according to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. She was taken to a hospital, where she died. Investigators believe excessive speed may have contributed to the crash, which remained under investigation Tuesday.
The 19-year-old driver, a man from Frederick, was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, authorities said. The second passenger declined medical treatment. Officials had not announced charges or released additional findings from the investigation.
Hottle made her feature-film debut as Jia in the 2021 movie “Godzilla vs. Kong.” Her character was a young Deaf girl who formed a close bond with Kong and communicated with the giant creature through American Sign Language. The role placed Hottle at the center of several of the film’s most important emotional scenes.
She returned as Jia in the 2024 sequel, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” In that film, the character continued to serve as a bridge between Kong and the other human characters while learning more about her own background. Hottle appeared with actors including Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens.
Hottle was a native user of American Sign Language and came from a multigenerational Deaf family. Her casting brought authentic Deaf representation to a major Hollywood franchise watched by audiences around the world. She had also appeared in an episode of the television series “Magnum P.I.”
Members of Hottle’s family confirmed her death in social media posts Tuesday. Her mother, Ketsi Hottle, shared a tribute describing it as a privilege to be her mother. The family did not immediately release funeral or memorial arrangements.
Actors and members of the Deaf community also remembered Hottle after news of her death became public. Millie Bobby Brown, who appeared in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” said on social media that she was devastated. Oscar-winning actor Marlee Matlin was among those who paid tribute to Hottle’s talent and the visibility she brought to young Deaf performers.
Hottle’s work as Jia was notable because the character’s Deaf identity was part of the story without being treated as a limitation. Her scenes used sign language as a central form of communication, including exchanges that helped the human characters understand Kong’s intentions. The performance introduced many viewers to a young Deaf character played by a Deaf actor in a large-scale action film.
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office continued to investigate why the vehicle left the road. Authorities had not released a final determination about the cause of the crash as of Tuesday.
Author note: Last updated July 21, 2026.