Carla Jeffery, Disney's Zombies actress, dies at 33

Carla Jeffery, the actress who played the cheerleader Bree across Disney's Zombies films, died on September 1 at the age of 33, her longtime management company announced the following day.

Alexanders Talent Management, which had represented Jeffery since she was 12, shared the news on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in a statement posted to her Instagram account. Carla Alexander, who leads the agency, wrote the message and did not give a cause of death or say where Jeffery died.

Jeffery joined the agency as a 12-year-old and stayed with it for more than two decades, until her death, according to that statement. She was born on July 10, 1993, in Houston, and began acting as a child.

The role that reached millions

Jeffery played Bree, a bubbly cheerleader at Seabrook High and the loyal best friend of Addison, played by Meg Donnelly, in the Zombies musicals. She appeared in the 2018 original and its 2020 and 2022 sequels, then voiced the character in the 2024 animated series Zombies: The Re-Animated Series, the role that introduced her to millions of younger viewers.

Disney Entertainment Television praised her in a statement to ABC News, saying her talent and spirit had left an indelible mark on everyone who worked with her. The studio said she had a rare gift for connecting with audiences and that her performances brought joy to millions.

The Zombies films, Disney Channel musicals about a town where zombies and humans learn to live together, became one of the network's signature properties of the era. Jeffery appeared as Bree in cast music videos for songs including 'Flesh & Bone' and 'Fired Up,' and in Donnelly's video for 'Impress.'

According to her official biography, Jeffery had been a competitive cheerleader as a child, performing with the Midwest Marauders in Cincinnati.

Her final live-action turn as Bree came in Zombies 3, which reached Disney Channel in 2022. She later returned to the character through voice work and, in 2025, recorded an episode of the audio drama Asanté, keeping Bree in the franchise well beyond the live-action films.

In all, she amassed some three dozen film and television credits, according to UPI.

Tributes from her castmates

News of her death drew immediate tributes from the actors who had worked beside her on the Zombies films. Milo Manheim, who played the male lead, Zed, posted on his Instagram Story and shared a clip of Jeffery dancing in an episode of iCarly, thanking her for spreading so much joy.

Love you Carlaboo. The sweetest, kindest, most loving person.

Chandler Kinney, who played Willa from Zombies 2 onward, wrote on Instagram that the loss did not feel real. She called Jeffery the sweetest, most sparkly gal, said her positivity had made every day better and brighter, and remembered watching her break into the splits on any dance floor.

Trevor Tordjman, who played Bucky in the films, said he was at a loss for words and would never forget her energy and spirit. Other former castmates, including the singer and actress Baby Ariel, also posted messages online in the hours after the announcement.

The films built their appeal around young characters overcoming fear and division, and Bree sat at the friendly center of that world.

A career that began early

Jeffery made her screen debut in 2006, at 12, in the comedy Phat Girlz, playing a younger version of the character played by Mo'Nique. The next year she began a recurring role on Larry David's HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, part of one of the most memorable family storylines in the show's run.

On that show she played Keysha Black, a member of the Black family, who move in with David after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The family also included Leon, played by JB Smoove, and Loretta, played by Vivica A. Fox. Jeffery appeared in 10 episodes across the sixth and seventh seasons, from 2007 to 2009.

Between those early parts and her breakout, Jeffery guest-starred widely across broadcast, cable and streaming. Her credits included NBC's police drama Southland, where she had an arc as a witness in an attempted-murder case, along with iCarly, Miss Guided and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

She recurred on Disney Channel series starting in 2011, appearing in Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up and Best Friends Whenever. She also had an arc in the first season of Netflix's mockumentary American Vandal and appeared in Scream Queens, Uncle Buck, Torchwood and the feature films Teacher of the Year and Girl on the Edge.

Jeffery also built a career as a voice actress. She voiced the character Mania in a 2020 episode of the Marvel animated series Spider-Man, then revived Bree for the animated Zombies continuation two years after her last live-action appearance in the role.

Speaking openly about epilepsy

Away from acting, Jeffery had spoken publicly in recent years about living with epilepsy. She shared her story with the Epilepsy Foundation of America in 2022, describing the disclosure as a decision to stop hiding her condition and to raise awareness of it, UPI reported.

We are truly saddened to hear about Carla Jeffery. She was such a light and incredible advocate for the epilepsy community. We send our love to all of her family during this difficult time.

The foundation, which works to empower young adults living with epilepsy, posted its condolences on Instagram, calling her an advocate for the community. In her own posts, Jeffery had put the disclosure plainly, telling followers she was no longer hiding her disability and letting it be known that she had epilepsy.

A cause of death has not been released, and neither Jeffery's family nor her representatives have tied it to any condition. Carla Alexander told KTLA that more information would be shared in the coming days. The absence of any medical detail did not stop speculation from spreading online.

In their statement, Jeffery's representatives asked the public to respect the privacy of her family and loved ones as they grieve what they called an unimaginable loss.

A twin and a legacy

Jeffery grew up performing alongside her twin brother, Carlon Jeffery, who also became an actor and appeared on the Disney Channel sitcom A.N.T. Farm as Cameron Parks. The two began taking acting classes together as children, and the siblings became one of the channel's better-known brother-and-sister pairings.

The family moved from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she cheered as a child, to California while she was still young.

Alexander closed the agency's statement with a farewell to a performer she described as more than a client. She wrote, 'Rest beautifully, Carla. Your light will never be forgotten.' The agency added that she would be remembered for her infectious smile and the light she carried everywhere she went.

Across two decades of work, from a small role opposite Mo'Nique to a character that reached a generation of Disney Channel viewers, Jeffery built a career on parts that brought lightness to the screen. Her final Disney credits kept Bree alive in the franchise long after the cameras stopped. She was 33.