The young artist became known worldwide for playing Jia, a character who communicates with Kong through sign language
Actress Kaylee Hottle, known for playing Jia in the “Godzilla x Kong” film franchise, died after being involved in a traffic crash in Frederick, in the US state of Maryland. The information was confirmed by the artist’s father, Joshua Hottle, and by the Texas School for the Deaf, where she studied.
According to Joshua, he was in Texas when authorities notified him about the crash, which occurred on the morning of Tuesday, July 21. Shortly afterward, he received another call informing him that Kaylee had not survived while being transported to the hospital.
The actress’s father also shared a livestream on social media using American Sign Language, commonly known by the abbreviation ASL. In the post, he said he was traveling to Maryland to handle matters related to his daughter.
So far, authorities have not released detailed information about the circumstances surrounding the incident. In a statement, the Texas School for the Deaf asked that the family’s privacy be respected and urged the public to avoid speculation about the case.
Kaylee Hottle rose to prominence as Jia
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Kaylee grew up in Austin, Texas, and came from a family with several generations of deaf people. Fluent in ASL, she began her career in front of the cameras as a child, appearing in campaigns for communication services aimed at the deaf community, including Glide and Convo.
She gained international recognition in 2021, when Kaylee made her film debut as Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong.” In the production, her character develops a special bond with Kong and communicates with him through sign language.
Kaylee returned to the role in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” released in 2024. Her performance in the sequel earned her a Saturn Awards nomination in the category dedicated to young film performers.
In addition to the two films in the franchise, the actress appeared in an episode of the series “Magnum P.I.” Her work gained relevance for expanding the presence of deaf artists in major Hollywood productions and introducing audiences to a character whose deafness was portrayed as an integral part of the narrative.
Confirmation of her death prompted messages of condolence from fans, entertainment professionals, schoolmates and members of the deaf community.
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Photos: Warner Bros./Publicity. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
