Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress known for playing Jia in the Godzilla and Kong films, has died at age 18. Her father, Joshua Hottle, told TMZ that she was killed in a car accident in Maryland.
Joshua Hottle said he learned his daughter had been involved in a serious crash before officials informed him that her heart stopped while she was being taken to the hospital. He also shared the news during a social media livestream conducted in ASL.
Her Role in the MonsterVerse
Hottle became widely recognized after appearing as Jia in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong. The character communicates with King Kong through sign language and lives on Skull Island with Dr. Ilene Andrews, played by Rebecca Hall.
| Production | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Godzilla vs. Kong | 2021 | Jia |
| Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire | 2024 | Jia |
She returned as Jia in the 2024 sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Hottle was also credited as Joon in a season four episode of the Magnum P.I. reboot.
Early Work and Family Background
An Atlanta, Georgia native, Hottle came from a multigenerational deaf family. She began acting in commercials and appeared in a PSA for the live video messaging app Glide when she was 9 years old.
Her father said he flew from Texas to Maryland to claim her body following the crash. TMZ reported the news on July 21, 2026.