Carla Jeffery, the actress Disney Channel viewers knew as the perky cheerleader Bree in the “Zombies” films, was 33 when she died September 1, 2026, at her California home. Her relatives are now pushing back on baseless internet chatter linking drugs to her death, saying plainly that she was not a drug user.
That residence in California is where she died, a family spokesperson told TMZ, adding that loved ones plan to hold off on saying anything more about the circumstances until autopsy results come back. The rumors spreading on social media have not been reported by any news organization, and no official finding supports them. Foul play was not a factor, the family also stated, and there is no police investigation.
The coroner has listed the case as pending and has determined no preliminary cause or manner of death. Family members said they are weighing carefully what they make public, since they want anything released to be accurate, and they asked to be left alone while they mourn and await findings.
Manager Shared the News on Instagram
Carla Alexander of Alexanders Talent Management, Jeffery’s manager of many years, made the death public on the night of September 2 in a post written on the actress’ Instagram account. Jeffery joined the agency when she was 12 and stayed for more than 20 years, Alexander said, developing from a child performer into an actress with a smile capable of lighting up any room. “Carla was more than a client; she was family,” Alexander wrote.
No cause of death came from the agency, which asked that the privacy of those close to Jeffery be respected. Its tribute closed by urging the actress to rest beautifully. Disney Entertainment Television, in a statement of its own, called Jeffery’s talent, warmth and spirit a lasting impression on everyone she worked with, credited her with a rare gift for connecting with audiences and said her generosity and sense of humor would be remembered. Condolences went from the company to her relatives, her fellow cast members and the fans of her work.
Co-Stars and Her Twin Brother Pay Tribute
Tributes from her “Zombies” castmates began appearing within hours. Chandler Kinney, who portrayed Willa, called the news unreal and said Jeffery was the kindest person she had ever met. “You made every day better and brighter with your infectious positivity,” Kinney wrote, adding that the warmth Jeffery brought to Bree mirrored who she was away from the camera.
Photos and videos went up on the Instagram Story of Milo Manheim, her on-screen counterpart as Zed, who described her as the sweetest, kindest and most loving person. Bucky Buchanan’s portrayer, Trevor Tordjman, said her energy was something he would never forget and called her one of a kind.
Her twin brother, actor Carlon Jeffery, a former star of Disney Channel’s “A.N.T. Farm,” posted the agency’s statement a second time alongside beach footage of his sister and a screengrab of a text he had sent her at an unspecified date. Her resilience and grace had made him proud, he told her in that message, and he urged her not to let anyone dim her light. He also told her he had her back in this life and the next.
From Larry David’s HBO Set to Seabrook High
Jeffery was born in Houston, Texas, on July 10, 1993, and made her first screen appearance in the 2006 comedy “Phat Girlz,” playing the character Jazmin as a 10-year-old, with Mo’Nique as the adult Jazmin. She also began a recurring stint that same year on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” where Keysha Black was her character across 10 episodes in the sixth and seventh seasons between 2006 and 2008. The Blacks, a family left without a home by Hurricane Katrina, moved in with series star Larry David, and Keysha was one of them. JB Smoove played Leon in that same household, and Vivica A. Fox played Loretta.
Steady television work followed: a guest turn on Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” in 2008, Disney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie” in 2011 and “Shake It Up” in 2012, and the role of Janila on NBC’s police drama “Southland.” Her credits also included “Scream Queens,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Uncle Buck,” “American Vandal,” “Suburgatory,” “Torchwood,” “Men of a Certain Age,” “Best Friends Whenever,” “Lie to Me” and “Miss Guided.” In film she appeared in “Teacher of the Year” in 2014, “Girl on the Edge” in 2015 and “Exchange” in 2016, and she voiced a character in a 2020 episode of Disney XD’s “Spider-Man.” Her final credited performance was the 2025 audio drama “Asanté.”
The Role That Made Her a Star
The Disney Channel musical “Zombies” gave her a breakthrough part in 2018, casting her as Bree, a Seabrook High School student competing for a place on the cheerleading team who becomes friends with Addison, played by Meg Donnelly. She took up the role again in the sequels released in 2020 and 2022, then came back to voice the character in the 2024 animated offshoot “Zombies: The Re-Animated Series.” She also turned up in cast music videos for songs including “Flesh & Bone” and “Fired Up,” and she appeared in Donnelly’s video for “Impress.”
Jeffery stayed close to the franchise that had introduced her to a young global audience. She walked the carpet at the world premiere of “Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires” at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on July 8, 2025.
Until the autopsy is complete, her relatives say, no further details will be released — and they have repeated their request that their privacy be respected in the meantime.
