Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actor who portrayed Jia in the 2021 hit Godzilla v Kong and its 2024 sequel Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, has died at the age of 18. Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death in a Facebook video streamed in American Sign Language (ASL), titled “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.” The Hottle family is all deaf.
Details of the accident
Hottle was killed in a car crash in Frederick, Maryland. The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a student, also shared the news, stating, “Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.”
Career highlights
Hottle played Jia, a deaf orphan who forms a bond with Kong, in Godzilla v Kong. She starred alongside Rebecca Hall, who played her adopted mother, and Alexander Skarsgård. Both Hall and Skarsgård learned ASL to communicate directly with Hottle on set, according to reports.
In an interview, Hottle said, “I think some people see ASL and deafness as a barrier or a gift, but it’s just a language, and deaf is just deaf. We can do many things, just not hear. We need more deaf actresses and crew in the industry for people to see and normalize it.”
Her role in Godzilla v Kong: The New Empire earned her a nomination for best performance by a younger actor at the Saturn awards. She also appeared in commercials and an episode of the rebooted Magnum PI television series.
Impact on deaf representation
Hottle was a vocal advocate for deaf representation. “I’m acting in monster movies as a deaf person,” she said. “I want deaf people to know that they can do that too, just like me. There are no limits.”
