Carla Jeffery, Bree in Disney's Zombies Franchise, Dies at 33
Carla Jeffery, best known for playing Bree in Disney Channel's "Zombies" franchise, has died at age 33. Her death was announced Tuesday, September 1, through her official Instagram account by her talent management company.
No cause of death has been made public, and her family has asked for privacy while they grieve.
A Career That Started at Age 12
Jeffery, born in Houston, Texas, signed with Alexanders Talent Management at just 12 years old and stayed with the agency for more than two decades. Her manager, Carla Alexander, said in a statement that the agency had "the privilege of watching her grow into" a talented, vibrant woman over their years working together.
Her earliest screen credit came in the 2006 film "Phat Girlz," and she went on to land guest and recurring roles across major networks, including "iCarly," "Good Luck Charlie," "Shake It Up," "Scream Queens," and "American Vandal." She played Keysha Black across 10 episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and later lent her voice to Mania, a symbiote character, in an animated Spider-Man series. She is survived by her twin brother, Carlon Jeffery, who is also an actor best known for Disney Channel's "A.N.T. Farm."
Her Breakout Role as Bree
Jeffery found her widest audience playing Bree, a cheerleader and Zombietown resident, across all three films in Disney's Zombies franchise between 2018 and 2022, as well as the franchise's animated shorts. The role made her a familiar face to a generation of Disney Channel viewers and connected her with a cast that quickly became known for its close off-screen friendships. The films combined musical numbers with a lighthearted romance between a human cheerleader and a zombie transfer student, and became a reliable ratings draw for the network across three installments and multiple companion specials.
That bond was evident in the wave of tributes that followed her death. Co-star Milo Manheim wrote online that Jeffery was "the sweetest person I have ever met," while Chandler Kinney, who played werewolf Willa in the films, described her as "the brightest shining light in any room she walked into."
Castmates Remember Her Warmth
Kinney's tribute went on to call Jeffery "the kindest person you'd ever meet," a sentiment echoed across social media as fans and colleagues shared photos and memories from the "Zombies" sets. Malachi Barton, who joined the franchise in its later installments, also posted a tribute noting he would deeply miss her presence.
Alexanders Talent Management added that Jeffery would be remembered for "her infectious smile, her laughter, her talent and the beautiful light she carried" wherever she went, language that mirrored how so many of her castmates chose to describe her in their own posts.
The outpouring reflects how central Jeffery had become to the franchise's community despite her role often being overshadowed by the film series' lead characters. Colleagues consistently described her as generous with her time and quick to make everyone around her feel welcome, on set and off.
Jeffery's death adds her to a growing list of young Disney Channel alumni whose stories resonated with millions of fans who grew up watching the network's original movies and series. Tributes are expected to continue in the coming days as more details about services or memorials are shared by her family and representatives.
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