Kaylee Hottle, actress from Godzilla vs. Kong, dies at 18

moviesJul 21, 2026261,052

Actress Kaylee Hottle, known for playing Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, died in a car accident Tuesday morning in Frederick, Maryland, her father Joshua Hottle confirmed. Reports list her age as 18 though her IMDb profile gives a May 1, 2007 birthdate that would make her 19. Hottle was a senior at the Texas School for the Deaf and came from a multi-generational deaf family; her father announced her death in American Sign Language on a Facebook livestream. In the MonsterVerse films Hottle’s deaf character Jia communicated with Kong using sign language, a performance praised by co-star Alexander Skarsgård for its poise and professionalism. Hottle received a 2025 Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer in a Film and previously appeared in a 2021 episode of the CBS Magnum P.I. reboot and in commercials for the deaf community.

Bloody Disgusting

@bloody-disgusting.com

We are deeply sad to learn that Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong actress Kaylee Hottle has passed away after a tragic car accident in Maryland. She was just 18 years old. Hottle played Jia in the MonsterVerse.

5205h ago

Matt G. ♾️ (🎭Team Tragedy🎭)20

Genuinely a depressing loss. Condolences to Kaylee's family in this difficult time. 💐

Dr. Darrell C.12

No fucking way. It's always so sad when a young person dies. 😿😿😿

Lizziefly3

Respect the poor girl by getting her age right. She was 19, not 18.

deltaprime350.bsky.social2

My condolences to her friends and family.

Zilladevil1

No parent should have to bury a child. How awful

Retropixel1271

First Sam Neill and now this?!

Quoting this

Ant56

This is truly a really sad thing to read. She was excellent in her role. Clearly putting her all in these movies.

Brandon Santiago52

Damn. I don’t know what to say. This just sucks. Major condolences to her family.

Mathew Buck49

A tragedy. A prominent Deaf actor too.

Neo Monster Island19

This is genuinely horrible. May God keep her in his arms, may she know how much she was loved on earth

🩸💀 The Horror Guru 💀🩸13

Way too young. Rest in peace. 😭

Lizzy Rose Oliver - Voice Actress6

I legit don't know what to say. Absolutely heartbreaking. Deepest condolences to her family.

Sammy Hain6

I just... 18, Deaf, and partnof a major franchise. A real inspiration the hearing impaired community. People can call Monsterverse silly fun but the majority of pathos and connection we have to Kong came through Kaylee's performance. These acts of god really stick it in and break it off

Desperado D. Mayor4

Jesus fucking christ, this sucks.

Giallo Lover3

Damn, what awful news. RIP Jia.

GᴀʀʀC2

I think it's obvious that God wants us to suffer right now with these sudden tragic deaths... And at 18? Ouch. 😭

IGN

@ign.com

Kaylee Hottle, who played Jia in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong and the 2024 sequel, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, has died in a car accident aged 18. https://bit.ly/4vENHeg

1153h ago

Philip A Rooney II1

Fucking hell, that's way too young. Godspeed Kaylee.

bloppyyxd2501

dang poor girl die too young 😢

Quoting this

NyyxVeil 🏳️‍🌈8

RIP to an incredible actress 💔

We Geek Girls6

So sad. RIP Kaylee. 😢💔

demotivational speaker. 🎂

@heysita.bsky.social

RIP to Kaylee Hottle, who played Jia in newer Kong franchise. Her heart stopped on the way to the hospital after being in a car crash somewhere in Maryland. Her father made a brief statement and said he traveled from Texas to claim her body. May the sweet girl rest.

583h ago

Mr. Goji 🤙🏻

@mrgoji1954.bsky.social

Actress Kaylee Hottle, better known as Jia from the two recent MonsterVerse films has tragically passed away at the age of 18 after a fatal car crash. My heart breaks once again. May you Rest In Peace, Kaylee. Thank you for your time & inspiring many people in the deaf community. You will be missed.

485h ago

Quoting this

the white L.A. Beast3

Oh my fucking god no

Slime Sommelier2

What a terrible, terrible loss

Pop Crave

@popcrave.com

Kaylee Hottle has passed away in a car accident aged 18. She was best known for playing Jia in two ‘Godzilla’ films.

574h ago

Anime News Network

@animenewsnetwork.com

RIP actress Kaylee Hottle, who played deaf character Jia in the Godzilla vs. Kong films

393h ago

Quoting this

Dan Larson36

Absolutely tragic. 18 years old is too young to die of anything.

Mark Allen Jr.34

Damn. This is so heartbreaking. One of the best pieces of the new Kong films was Kaylee's character. She seemed to have such a promising career ahead of her, and was truly making huge strides for the Deaf community as well. Rest in Peace, Kaylee.

Kevin Church4

She was a real highlight of those movies. Very sad to hear about her passing at just 18.

VGAfanatic4

Dude...that fuckin' sucks. 18 is WAY too young for anyone to die. She had her whole life ahead of her. Rest in peace, sweet child.

Dexerto

@dexerto.bsky.social

Deaf actress Kaylee Hottle has died at 19 following a car crash in Maryland She played Jia in the Godzilla franchise and helped bring deaf representation to the big screen

435h ago

The Washington Post

@washingtonpost.com

Kaylee Hottle, the 18-year-old actress who starred in 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong” and its 2024 sequel, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” was killed Tuesday morning in a car crash in Maryland, authorities said.

322h ago

Jaxson Elliott1

This is sad. Some real talent there gone far too soon.

Computer Controlled1

The amount of death and suffering we tolerate from automobiles is astounding.

Hotep Kevin Nash

@homunculusdick.bsky.social

Aw man. I was just rewatching Godzilla vs Kong at my friends place not long ago and remarked on how good she was in it

184h ago

Quoting this

Lost Under the Couch Barbie.5

She was very good in it. She was a wonderful addition. 18 is a depressingly young age to die.

Eric Alper

@thatericalper.com

Kaylee Hottle, who brought Jia to life in 2 Godzilla films and helped bring authentic Deaf representation to a major franchise, has died at 18. Her father shared the news himself, in the language she taught so many people to notice. zurl.co/YuAS8

104h ago

Fllics

@fllicsofficial.bsky.social

Tragic news out of the US: Actress Kaylee Hottle (Godzilla vs. Kong) has passed away at 18 after a fatal car accident. Taken way too soon. 💔 RIP Kaylee Hottle. 🕊️

202h ago

🦖Gavin Hayes (DinoFang127)🦖

@dinofang127.bsky.social

I made a memorial for Kaylee Hottle, who we lost too soon. It's doesn't seem like much, but it's better than nothing. I just can't believe we lost another great person in a span of one month. First Sam Neill and now her. This just sucks... Rest in Peace, Kaylee Hottle ✝️🕯🙏

82h ago

Nikki

@varivergirl.bsky.social

'Godzilla vs. Kong' Star Kaylee Hottle Dead at 18 www.tmz.com/2026/07/21/k...

114h ago

Bring Me The Head of Ramona Garcia

@razorgirl1984.bsky.social

RIP, Kaylee Hottle. It's so tragic to die that young.

103h ago

SUPERTOHOREMIX

@j-e-t.bsky.social

Kaylee Hottle did not deserve to have her life taken this soon. She did a tremendous job representing the deaf community on the big screen and was a beating heart of the two Monsterverse films she starred in. My condolences to her family and friends. #kayleehottle #tribute

93h ago

3 sources

tmz.com'Godzilla vs. Kong' Star Kaylee Hottle Dead at 18 bloody-disgusting.com‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ and ‘Godzilla x Kong’ Actress Kaylee Hottle Has Passed Away at 18 Years Old forbes.comKaylee Hottle, ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’ Actress, Dies At 18

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Kaylee Hottle, actress from Godzilla vs. Kong, dies at 18

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