Carla Jeffery, actress known for Disney Channel 'Zombies' films, dies at 33

Announcement and tributes

American actress Carla Jeffery died on 1 September 2026 at the age of 33. Her long-time talent manager, Carla Alexander of Alexanders Talent Management, confirmed the news in a statement published on the actress's Instagram account. Alexander, who had represented Jeffery since the actress was 12 years old, paid tribute to their two-decade professional relationship.

For more than 20 years, Carla was part of the Alexanders Talent Management family, and watching her grow from a talented young girl into the beautiful, vibrant woman and actress she became was an incredible privilege.

Jeffery's twin brother, actor Carlon Jeffery, shared the management statement along with personal video footage and an undated text message expressing pride in her resilience and character. Disney Entertainment Television issued a statement offering condolences to her family and fans, commending her talent, warmth, and spirit. Co-stars from the Disney Channel musical franchise, including Milo Manheim, Trevor Tordjman, and Chandler Kinney, also posted tributes, with Manheim calling her the sweetest person he had known. Representatives for the actress have not released a cause of death.

Early screen career and television roles

Born on 10 July 1993 in Houston, Texas, Jeffery began her professional acting career in childhood. She earned her first credited screen role at age 12 in the 2006 comedy film Phat Girlz, appearing alongside Mo'Nique. Following that debut, she worked steadily across American television for over a decade.

Her television credits included a recurring role as Keysha Black across 10 episodes of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, playing part of the Black family that moves in with Larry David following Hurricane Katrina. Jeffery also played Janila on the police drama Southland, and secured guest appearances in series such as iCarly, Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up!, Scream Queens, Uncle Buck, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and American Vandal.

The Zombies franchise and representation

Jeffery achieved widespread recognition through Disney Channel's musical film Zombies, which debuted in 2018. She played Bree, an energetic Seabrook High cheerleader and the best friend of lead character Addison. Jeffery reprised the role in Zombies 2 in 2020, Zombies 3 in 2022, and the 2025 installment Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, while also voicing Bree in Zombies: The Re-Animated Series.

During an interview on The Tokens Podcast in 2025, Jeffery discussed the personal significance of the role and its effect on younger viewers. She recounted meeting young Black girls dressed in Bree's cheerleading uniform, noting that she had earlier struggled with body image insecurities and often felt isolated as the only Black girl on set.

Knowing that young Black women look up to you as a role model, that is what I want to keep doing.

Advocacy on living with epilepsy

In 2022, Jeffery spoke publicly for the first time during a Disney Channel conversation regarding disabilities about her diagnosis with epilepsy. She shared that she had begun experiencing epileptic seizures at age 18, and had initially kept the condition private over concerns that public knowledge might hinder her acting opportunities.

A seizure that occurred during production on the Zombies franchise, which resulted in her waking up in an ambulance, altered her perspective on concealing the condition. Following that incident, she decided to speak openly about neurological health to encourage broader dialogue and demonstrate that living with a disability should not prevent individuals from pursuing professional ambitions.