Actress Kaylee Hottle, known for her role in the 2021 movie “Godzilla vs. Kong” and its upcoming sequel, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” tragically passed away at the age of 18 in a car accident. Her father, Joshua Hottle, shared the heartbreaking news during a Facebook livestream in American Sign Language, revealing that the accident occurred in Maryland, and he was on his way from Texas to handle the arrangements.
Kaylee, a senior at the Texas School for the Deaf, was also confirmed to have passed away by the school in a statement. Both Kaylee and her father, who come from a multi-generational deaf family, were deaf. Known for her role as Jia, a deaf orphan who befriends Kong in the movies, Kaylee was deeply involved in the deaf community and had a strong command of American Sign Language, which she used to communicate with Kong in the films.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Kaylee hailed from a family with all members being deaf. She kickstarted her career with commercials advocating for the deaf community, showcasing her fluency in American Sign Language. Her casting in “Godzilla vs. Kong” was a result of a deliberate search for a deaf actor for the character Jia, and she was recommended by an assistant director who had seen her in a Convo commercial.
