'Beautiful, vibrant' Disney star Carla Jeffery dies at 33

Carla Jeffery, the actress who portrayed cheerleader Bree in Disney Channel's Zombies movies, passed away on September 1 at the age of 33. Her agent, Carla Alexander, confirmed the news, describing her as a warm and magnetic individual whose smile could light up a room. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Born in Houston in 1993, Jeffery began her career at the young age of 12 when she signed with Alexander's agency. She made her screen debut in 2006's Phat Girlz, playing a young Mo Nique. She later landed a recurring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm as Keysha Black, a character whose family moved in with Larry David following Hurricane Katrina. Jeffery also appeared on various other television shows such as iCarly, Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up!, Scream Queens, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Suburgatory, and American Vandal.

However, it was her role as Bree in the Zombies movies that defined her career. She starred in the original 2018 film, its two sequels, and returned to voice the character in the 2024 animated series spinoff. Her final acting credit was a 2025 audio drama, Asanté.

Castmates expressed their grief on social media, with Milo Manheim calling her "the sweetest person I have ever met," while Chandler Kinney described her as "the brightest presence in any room." Trevor Tordjman and Baby Ariel also mourned her loss, expressing a sense of loss for words.

Disney Entertainment Television paid tribute to Jeffery, praising her talent and generosity, and offered condolences to her family, castmates, and fans. She is survived by her twin brother, Carlon Jeffery, also an actor, who is known for his role as Cameron Parks on A.N.T. Farm.