Godzilla v Kong Actor Kaylee Hottle Dies at 18

Kaylee Hottle, an 18-year-old deaf actor who held significant roles in the films "Godzilla v Kong" and its 2024 sequel "Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire," has died. Her passing was announced by her father, Joshua Hottle, in a video shared on Facebook. The video, conducted in American Sign Language (ASL), was titled "I am taking a flight that I never would like to take," reflecting the family's deaf status and the somber nature of the announcement. Hottle's career included portraying Jia, a young girl who forms a bond with the giant ape Kong, in both blockbuster movies. Her performance in "Godzilla v Kong" marked a notable presence for a deaf actor in a major Hollywood production. The circumstances of her death were reported to be a car crash in Maryland. Hottle's young age and promising career were cut short, leaving a void in the film industry and for her fans.