Relatives of Carla Jeffery — known to Disney Channel audiences as the perky cheerleader Bree in the “Zombies” films — are disputing baseless internet chatter tying drugs to her death, stating plainly that she was not a drug user. Jeffery was 33 when she died September 1, 2026, at her California home.
A spokesperson for the family told TMZ that she died at that residence in California and that loved ones intend to wait for autopsy results before commenting further on the circumstances. No news organization has reported the rumors spreading on social media, and no official finding supports them. The family also stated that foul play was not a factor and that there is no police investigation.
The coroner lists the case as pending, with no preliminary cause or manner of death determined. Family members explained that they are being careful about what they make public because 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
Word of Jeffery’s death went public on the night of September 2 through a post on her Instagram account authored by Carla Alexander of Alexanders Talent Management, her manager of many years. According to Alexander, Jeffery joined the agency when she was 12 and stayed for more than 20 years, 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 was given by the agency, which requested that the privacy of those close to Jeffery be respected and ended its tribute by urging the actress to rest beautifully. In its own statement, Disney Entertainment Television said Jeffery’s talent, warmth and spirit made a lasting impression on everyone she worked with, that she possessed a rare gift for connecting with audiences, and that her generosity and sense of humor would be remembered. The company offered condolences 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 surfaced within hours. Chandler Kinney, who portrayed Willa, said the news felt unreal and called Jeffery the kindest person she had ever met. “You made every day better and brighter with your infectious positivity,” Kinney wrote, noting that the warmth Jeffery gave Bree reflected who she was away from the camera.
Milo Manheim, her on-screen counterpart as Zed, shared photos and videos to his Instagram Story and described her as the sweetest, kindest and most loving person. Trevor Tordjman, who portrayed Bucky Buchanan, said he would never forget her energy and called her one of a kind.
Her twin brother, actor Carlon Jeffery, a former star of Disney Channel’s “A.N.T. Farm,” shared the agency’s statement again, pairing it with beach footage of his sister and a screengrab of a text he had sent her at an unspecified date. In the message, he said he was proud of her resilience and grace, encouraged her not to let anyone dim her light, and told her he had her back in this life and the next.
From Larry David’s HBO Set to Seabrook High
Born in Houston, Texas, on July 10, 1993, Jeffery first appeared on screen in the 2006 comedy “Phat Girlz,” playing the character Jazmin as a 10-year-old, with Mo’Nique as the adult Jazmin. That same year she also began a recurring stint on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” playing Keysha Black in 10 episodes spanning the sixth and seventh seasons between 2006 and 2008. Keysha was one of the Blacks, a family left without a home by Hurricane Katrina who moved in with series star Larry David. The household also included Leon, played by JB Smoove, and Loretta, played by Vivica A. Fox.
Regular television work followed. She guest starred on Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” in 2008, Disney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie” in 2011 and “Shake It Up” in 2012, and played 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.” On the film side 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.”
The Role That Made Her a Star
Her breakthrough came in 2018, when she landed a part in the Disney Channel musical “Zombies” 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 and 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 appeared in Donnelly’s video for “Impress.”
Jeffery remained close to the franchise that introduced her to a young global audience, walking 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.
For now, her relatives say they will not release further details until the autopsy is complete, and they have repeated their request that their privacy be respected in the meantime.
