Carla Jeffery’s talent agency confirmed Wednesday that the Disney Channel actress died Tuesday at age 33.
The confirmation came from her representatives at the A3 Artists Agency, who released an emotional statement the afternoon following her death. Jeffery, a screen veteran of nearly two decades, was best known to millions of young viewers as Bree, the spirited cheerleader in Disney’s hit Zombies musical franchise.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Carla Jeffery,” the agency announced. “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.”
The representatives went further in their tribute, describing Jeffery as “more than a client” and calling her “family” in the heartbreaking announcement. No cause of death has been publicly disclosed.
Jeffery first stepped into Bree’s shoes in the original 2018 Zombies film, a musical that became a defining piece of modern Disney Channel programming. She starred alongside Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim, forming a core trio that would carry the franchise through two sequels.
The actress returned for Zombies 2 in 2020 and Zombies 3 in 2022, with her voice work extending the character into animated shorts and spinoff series. The role cemented Bree as a fan favorite and Jeffery as a fixture for a generation raised on the channel’s original movies.
Before Disney came calling, Jeffery had spent years building credits across television and film. Her early work included guest spots on the gritty police drama Southland, the Fox deception drama Lie to Me, and the ABC comedy Suburgatory. She also appeared in Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and MTV’s teen series Awkward.
Her performing roots stretched back to childhood, when she worked as a commercial performer and dancer before transitioning to scripted roles.
News of her sudden death triggered an immediate outpouring across social media from viewers who had grown up with her work. Fans flooded her accounts with memories of her comedic timing and warmth on screen.
“She made Bree such a bright light in those movies,” one fan wrote online. “Growing up on Zombies was so special for so many of us, and she had such incredible, genuine energy.”
The Zombies franchise represented a rare sustained success in Disney Channel’s later original movie era, blending musical numbers with a story of humans and zombies learning to coexist at Seabrook High. Jeffery’s Bree provided much of the film’s enthusiastic spirit, a cheerleader unafraid to embrace the chaotic energy around her.
Jeffery’s representatives have not announced funeral arrangements or memorial details, noting that her family and loved ones are grieving privately.
Her death marks another loss for the extended Disney Channel community, which has seen several young performers pass away in recent years. The network’s original movie and series stars often maintain devoted fanbases long after their initial airings, with social media preserving those connections across years and even decades.
Jeffery’s final Zombies appearance came with the 2022 threequel, which wrapped the main film storyline while her voice work continued in related animated content.