Carla Jeffery, who brought cheerleader Bree to life across Disney’s “Zombies” franchise, has died at 33. Her death prompted an immediate wave of grief from former castmates, including Milo Manheim, Trevor Tordjman, and Chandler Kinney. Jeffery’s manager confirmed the news Wednesday after the actress died Tuesday. No cause of death has been disclosed yet.
Zombies stars pay tribute to Carla Jeffrey after her death
The first tributes appeared beneath a social media post from Carla Jeffrey’s longtime manager, Carla Alexander. She described the actress as “beautiful, vibrant, and incredibly talented,” while remembering the smile that could brighten a room. Alexander also requested privacy for Jeffrey’s family and friends in this hard time, writing, “Rest beautifully, Carla. Your light will never be forgotten.”
Chandler Kinney, who played Willa beginning with “Zombies 2,” struggled to process the loss. She remembered Jeffery as “the brightest shining light” and “the kindest person,” before admitting, “this doesn’t feel real” (via EW).
Baby Ariel, who portrayed Wynter, posted a heartfelt expression of love and loss.
Milo Manheim, who played Zed throughout the “Zombies” movies, kept his reaction brief but deeply personal. “The sweetest person I have ever met,” he wrote, adding, “I love you.” Trevor Tordjman, known to fans as Bucky, said Jeffery’s “energy and spirit” would stay with him.
Before “Zombies” made her a familiar face to Disney viewers, Jeffery had already built a surprisingly broad acting résumé. The Houston native started young, landing her first role at 12 as a younger version of Mo’Nique’s character in “Phat Girlz.” From there, she picked up appearances in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Southland,” “iCarly,” “Lie to Me,” “Good Luck Charlie,” and “Shake It Up,” followed by roles in “American Vandal,” “Scream Queens,” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”
Then came Bree, the character that would define Jeffery’s career for many fans. She first appeared in Disney’s “Zombies” in 2018 and reprised the role in “Zombies 2” and “Zombies 3.” Jeffery later returned to the franchise behind the microphone, voicing Bree in “Zombies: The Re-Animated Series.”
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
