Excessive speed is thought to have contributed to the early death of the deaf actress who portrayed Jia in two popular movies on Tuesday.
The young deaf actress Kaylee Hottle, who gained popularity as Jia in two successful "Godzilla" films, passed away in a car accident in Maryland. She was eighteen.
Hottle was one of two passengers in a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old guy when it went off a two-lane roadway and collided with a culvert near Ijamsville, Maryland, at around 2:52 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. About 40 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., the collision took place. After being brought to a hospital, Hottle was declared dead. The other passenger refused medical attention, and the driver's injuries were not life-threatening. The inquiry is still ongoing, however excessive speed is thought to be a major issue. Multiple blunt force injuries were confirmed as the cause of death by the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Like other members of her family, Hottle was a native American Sign Language signer despite being deaf. She was a senior at Austin's Texas School for the Deaf.
In the 2021 movie "Godzilla vs. Kong," she debuted as Jia, a young orphan who has a unique bond with King Kong and uses sign language to communicate with him. The 2024 follow-up "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" had her in the same role. She was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor because of her performance. She was scheduled to participate in the upcoming movie "What Doesn't Kill Us" and made an appearance in an episode of "Magnum, P.I."
She "steals the movie," according to co-star Alexander Skarsgård, who learned ASL to converse with her. Her co-star in the Godzilla series, Millie Bobby Brown, expressed her "devastation." "You will be deeply missed Kaylee," Brown wrote. Eiza González remarked that she was "devastated," while Rebecca Hall, who also starred in both movies, expressed that her "heart goes out to your family." I love you. The film's production firm, Legendary Pictures, referred to Hottle as a "cherished member" of the team.
Oscar winner Troy Kotsur sent his "deepest condolences" to Oscar-winning deaf actress Marlee Matlin, who expressed her "absolutely gutted" feelings. Her co-star and fellow deaf actor in "What Doesn't Kill Us," Alaqua Cox, expressed her heartbreak. My sympathies are with her family.
Joshua Hottle, Hottle's father, used American Sign Language to convey the news in a heartfelt Facebook video. "Kaylee's mom and four siblings are crushed," he said. "Very grateful for the 18 years we had together and wish we had more". "Don't let this incident ruin the rest of your life," he added, adding that he had forgiven the driver. "I still feel Kaylee is with us" was the post made by her mother, Ketsi Hottle.
"I'd like to see more deaf, young actresses get motivated when they see me on screen, and hopefully they'll have a chance in Hollywood as well," Hottle said in a 2024 interview regarding representation. Her passing was described as a "tremendous loss" by the Texas School for the Deaf, and Warner Bros. honored the actress with a picture. While traveling to Maryland to "bring Kaylee's body back home," her father encapsulated the sorrow of a family and an industry lamenting the premature extinguishment of a bright light.