Kaylee Hottle, the Deaf actor known for playing Jia in two MonsterVerse films, died following a car crash in Maryland early Tuesday. She was 18.
Hottle was a passenger in a 1995 Honda Accord that left the road and struck a culvert in Ijamsville shortly before 3 a.m. on July 21, according to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency responders transported Hottle to an area trauma center, where she was pronounced dead. The 19-year-old driver was hospitalized with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, while another passenger declined medical treatment at the scene.
Hottle’s father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death in a video shared in American Sign Language while traveling from Texas to Maryland. The sheriff’s office believes excessive speed contributed to the collision, which remains under investigation.
The Crash Remains Under Investigation
Deputies and fire and rescue personnel responded to the 11400 block of Windsor Road at approximately 2:52 a.m. Investigators said the Honda traveled off the right side of the two-lane roadway before hitting the culvert.
The sheriff’s office identified Hottle as a resident of Kyle, Texas. Authorities have not announced any criminal charges and asked witnesses or anyone with information about the collision to contact the department’s Traffic Unit.
Hottle Played Jia in Two MonsterVerse Films
Hottle made her feature-film debut in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong. She played Jia, a Deaf orphan who forms a close bond with Kong and communicates with him through sign language.
She returned opposite Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry in 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Her performance earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer in a Film.
A native ASL signer from a multigenerational Deaf family, Hottle began performing in advertisements before entering the MonsterVerse. She also appeared in a 2021 episode of Magnum P.I. and was listed as part of the cast of the upcoming film What Doesn’t Kill Us.
Alexander Skarsgård, who worked with Hottle on Godzilla vs. Kong, previously praised her ability to understand direction and adjust her performance quickly despite the movie being her first feature production. He and other cast members learned ASL to communicate with her on set.
Rebecca Hall and Other Actors Shared Tributes
View this post on Instagram
Hall, who played Jia’s adoptive mother, Dr. Ilene Andrews, shared behind-the-scenes photographs from their two films. “Devastated to hear this news,” she wrote. “My heart goes out to your family. You will be missed Kaylee.”
Millie Bobby Brown, who appeared with Hottle in Godzilla vs. Kong, said she was devastated and that Hottle would be deeply missed. Marlee Matlin remembered her beauty and talent, while fellow Deaf actors Alaqua Cox and Troy Kotsur offered condolences to her family.
The Texas School for the Deaf described Hottle as one of its seniors and said counseling and support services would be available to students affected by her death. “Please keep Kaylee’s loved ones in your thoughts as we mourn this tremendous loss together,” the school wrote.