Disney Zombies actress Carla Jeffery dies at 33

Carla Jeffery, the actress widely recognized for her cheerful portrayal of Bree in the Disney Channel's Z-O-M-B-I-E-S franchise, has died at the age of 33. Her death occurred on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, according to an announcement made by her long-standing representatives at Alexanders Talent Management.

Neither her representatives nor authorities have disclosed a cause or circumstances surrounding her death, leaving fans and colleagues mourning an artist whose career spanned two decades across children's television, adult comedies, and hit musical fantasy films.

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Born in Houston, Texas, on July 10, 1993, Jeffery entered the entertainment industry as a child actor, landing her first screen credit in the 2006 comedy Phat Girlz, starring Mo'Nique. Over the next twenty years, she accumulated a diverse array of television credits that traversed multiple networks and streaming platforms. News reports from outlets such as Daily Mail and Aol note that her early career included recurring appearances across 10 episodes of Larry David's HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm between 2007 and 2009, as well as roles in Southland, iCarly, Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up, Best Friends Whenever, Scream Queens, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. She also appeared in Netflix's acclaimed true-crime satire American Vandal and voiced Mania in a Spider-Man television project, alongside her twin brother, actor and rapper Carlon Jeffery.

Her definitive mainstream breakthrough arrived in February 2018 when she debuted as Bree — an aspiring cheerleader at Seabrook High School and the close friend of Addison, played by Meg Donnelly — in the Disney Channel original movie Zombies. Jeffery reprised her role in the network's subsequent sequels Zombies 2 in 2020 and Zombies 3 in 2022, before continuing the character into voice work for Disney's ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series in 2024.

Following the announcement of her death, members of the entertainment industry, agency representatives, and franchise co-stars flooded social media with personal remembrances.

"It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Carla Jeffery, who passed away on September 1, 2026, at just 33 years old. Carla joined the Alexanders Talent Management family at the age of 12. For more than 20 years, we had the privilege of watching her grow into a beautiful, vibrant, and incredibly talented woman whose radiant smile could light up any room."

Alexanders Talent Management, via Usatoday

Co-stars from the ZOMBIES universe echoed those sentiments, emphasizing that her real-life disposition mirrored her bubbly on-screen persona. Chandler Kinney wrote that Jeffery was the brightest shining light in any room she walked into. the kindest person you’d ever meet. the most beautiful soul (Daily Mail). Milo Manheim posted tributes calling her the sweetest, kindest, most loving person (7news), while Disney Entertainment Television released a statement acknowledging that her talent and warmth left a lasting impression on those who worked with her (Khaleej Times).

As tributes continue to circulate, her family has not shared further details surrounding her death, and her representatives have formally requested that the public respect their privacy during the mourning process.

Tributes and Television Legacy

According to reports from Daily Mail and 7news, the outpouring of grief extended across the entire ensemble of the Disney musical franchise. Co-stars including Trevor Tordjman, Ariel Martin, Pearce Joza, Swayam Bhatia, Mekonnen Knife, and Noah Zulfikar shared heartfelt messages on social media, emphasizing her radiant on-set energy. Daily Mail also noted that Jeffery's final public Instagram post on July 26 featured celebratory highlights and selfies from the birthday party of her co-star Meg Donnelly.

While fans and colleagues continue to share memories of her two decades on screen, ranging from her childhood debut in Mo'Nique's Phat Girlz to recurring television work on Curb Your Enthusiasm and American Vandal, neither her family nor Alexanders Talent Management has released further updates regarding her passing. As public mourning and tributes persist across the entertainment industry, respecting the privacy of her loved ones remains the next step for grieving family, friends, and supporters.

Career Chronology and Industry Impact

The trajectory of Jeffery's career was marked by a transition from early episodic work to a central role in a global musical phenomenon. While she is most recognized for the Zombies films, her professional foundation was built on a series of television appearances that spanned nearly two decades. According to reports from Aol and Daily Mail, these early roles included a four-episode arc in Southland in 2009 and a presence in Torchwood.

The impact of her passing was felt across multiple generations of the Disney cast. USA Today reported that Jadah Marie, an alum of the Descendants franchise, expressed shock and heartbreak over the loss. The grief extended to new additions to the franchise, such as Diaana Babnicova, who is slated to join the upcoming Zombies 5 as the character Pear, according to the Daily Mail.

The final glimpse of Jeffery's public life occurred on July 26, when she posted highlights and selfies from the birthday celebrations of Meg Donnelly. In that post, Jeffery described the night as Amazing and referred to Donnelly as Queen. This personal connection reflected the bond between the actress and her co-stars, who Daily Mail and 7news report described her as a beautiful soul whose energy was one of a kind.

Because no official cause of death has been released by authorities or her representatives at Alexanders Talent Management, public speculation remains unconfirmed. As the family continues to grieve this unimaginable loss, as described by her agency, respecting the privacy of her loved ones remains the next step.