Carla Jeffery, who played Bree in Disney's Zombies, dies at 33

Carla Jeffery, the actor best known for playing the cheerleader Bree in Disney's Zombies film franchise, died on September 1 at the age of 33. Her longtime management company, Alexanders Talent Management, announced her death in a statement posted to her Instagram account the following day.

A cause of death has not been disclosed. Carla Alexander, who leads Alexanders Talent Management, told the Los Angeles television station KTLA that more information would be released in the coming days.

Jeffery began acting as a child and joined Alexanders Talent Management at the age of 12. The agency said it had represented her for more than 20 years, watching her grow into what its founder called a beautiful, vibrant and incredibly talented woman whose radiant smile could light up any room.

Bree in Disney's Zombies

Jeffery played Bree, an aspiring cheerleader at Seabrook High School and a loyal friend to the main character, Addison, played by Meg Donnelly. She originated the role in the 2018 Disney Channel musical telefilm Zombies, then returned for Zombies 2 in 2020 and Zombies 3 in 2022. In 2024 she voiced the character in Zombies: The Re-Animated Series, keeping Bree at the center of the franchise across its run.

Beyond the films, Jeffery played Bree in cast music videos for songs including 'Flesh & Bone' and 'Fired Up,' and appeared in Donnelly's video for 'Impress.' She walked the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Disney's Prom Pact in 2023 and again at the world premiere of Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires in 2025, staying close to the franchise even as the series expanded.

As Bree in Disney's hit Zombies franchise, Carla shared her joy, humor and bright spirit with audiences around the world.

The statement described Jeffery as more than a client, calling her family, and asked that the privacy of her relatives and loved ones be honored as they grieve what it called an unimaginable loss. 'Rest beautifully, Carla,' Alexander wrote. 'Your light will never be forgotten.'

A career that began at 12

Jeffery made her screen debut at 12 in the 2006 romantic comedy Phat Girlz, playing a younger version of Jazmin, the character played by Mo'Nique. Over the next two decades she worked steadily in film and television. Speaking on The Tokens Podcast, she reflected on the young fans who saw themselves in Bree.

It's not about how big you are and everything, you've got young Black girls looking up to you.

One of her earliest recurring roles came on Larry David's HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, where she played Keysha Black across 10 episodes in the show's sixth and seventh seasons, from 2007 to 2009. Her character belonged to the Black family, who move in with David after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina; the household also included Leon, played by JB Smoove, and Loretta Black, played by Vivica A. Fox.

• Phat Girlz (2006), her feature debut opposite Mo'Nique
• Curb Your Enthusiasm, as Keysha Black across 10 episodes
• Good Luck Charlie and Shake It Up on the Disney Channel
• Zombies, Zombies 2 and Zombies 3, as Bree

Beginning in 2011, Jeffery took recurring parts in Disney Channel series including Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up and Best Friends Whenever. She had an arc in the first season of NBC's cop drama Southland as a key witness in an attempted murder case, and she recurred in the first season of Netflix's mockumentary American Vandal. Her other credits included iCarly, Scream Queens, Suburgatory, Torchwood and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, along with the films Teacher of the Year and Girl on the Edge.

Castmates and co-stars pay tribute

Milo Manheim, who played Zed opposite Jeffery in the Zombies films, remembered her on his Instagram Story. 'Love you Carlaboo,' he wrote. 'The sweetest, kindest, most loving person.' He also shared a clip of her dancing in an episode of iCarly, thanking her for spreading joy and writing that he hoped the moment would be brought back. In a comment on the announcement, he added that Jeffery was the sweetest person he had ever met.

Chandler Kinney, who played Willa in Zombies 2 and Zombies 3, wrote that the news did not feel real and called Jeffery 'the sweetest, most sparkly gal.' She said she would miss watching Jeffery 'break out your signature splits on any & every dance floor,' and told her, 'You're a legend in my eyes.' In a separate comment, she called Jeffery the brightest shining light in any room she walked into.

Trevor Tordjman, who played Bucky in the franchise, shared a photo of Jeffery on his Instagram Stories. 'Will never forget your energy,' he wrote. 'Truly one of a kind.' Kinney, in her own post, said she felt grateful to have known Jeffery's love and told her that her legacy of bringing joy would live on.

Charles Brockman III, who starred in the 2023 Disney film Prom Pact, said he could not believe the news. 'I still haven't found words,' he wrote, remembering her as one of the sweetest people who always showed up for the people she loved. Jeffery had appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of Prom Pact in 2023.

Her twin brother's tribute

Jeffery's twin brother, Carlon Jeffery, is also an actor, best known for playing Cameron Parks on the Disney Channel sitcom A.N.T. Farm, which ran from 2011 to 2014. On Wednesday, September 2, he posted a screenshot on his Instagram Stories of a final text message he had sent his sister, a note he had written before her death.

The message began, 'Hey Sis. Call me back when you get this,' and told Carla he had been calling to see how her day went. 'I love you to the moon & back sis,' he wrote, adding that he was proud of her resilience, her grace and her infectious smile. 'You are the best sister a brother could ask for,' he continued. 'I got your back in this life and the next.'

What is known about her death

Jeffery died on September 1, 2026, her management company said. The agency announced the news the next day in a post to her Instagram account, and it did not provide a cause or place of death. Alexander said additional information would be shared in the days ahead. The post drew responses from performers and fans across Hollywood who said the loss did not feel real.

From Houston to Hollywood

Jeffery was born in Houston, Texas, on July 10, 1993, one of a pair of twins, and began acting at 12. She grew up partly in Cincinnati, Ohio, later moved to California with her family and built a screen career that ran from feature films to network dramas, sitcoms and animated series over roughly two decades. Her brother pursued acting as well, and the two grew up working in the same industry.

In the Zombies films, Jeffery starred alongside Manheim, Donnelly, Kinney and Tordjman, and she reprised Bree for the 2024 animated continuation. Away from the franchise, she lent her voice to the Marvel animated series Spider-Man in 2020, voicing Mania, and appeared in independent films including Girl on the Edge in 2015 and Exchange in 2016. She continued taking on guest roles between the Zombies sequels.

News of her death drew tributes across Hollywood, with fellow Disney performers filling the comments of the announcement post to voice their disbelief. Fans and former co-stars described a performer whose warmth carried well beyond the screen, remembering her smile, her humor and her energy on set. Several shared photos and clips from their years working together.

Her work moved across broadcast networks, cable and streaming services, from Nickelodeon's iCarly to Netflix's American Vandal and NBC's Southland. Through all of it, Bree remained her defining part, a role she carried through three live-action films, several cast music videos and the 2024 animated series.

As of Thursday, Sept. 3, the circumstances of Jeffery's death remained unclear. Her management company said further details would follow in the coming days, and it asked the public to respect the privacy of her family and friends.

Remembered by her Disney family

For the cast and crew of Zombies, Jeffery's death fell hard on a group that had worked together since 2018. Her co-stars filled their tributes with photos of her, memories of her dancing and repeated thanks for the joy she brought them on set and off. She is survived by her twin brother, Carlon, who told her in his final message that he had her back in this life and the next.