Karla Jeffery, Disney's Zombies Star, Dies at 33

Actress Karla Jeffery, known for playing Bree in Disney’s “Zombies” franchise, died on September 1, 2026, at age 33. The news was announced by her management agency, Alexanders Talent Management, in a statement posted on Instagram. No official cause of death has been made public.

The agency wrote the tribute itself. Agency owner Karla Alexander described a relationship with Jeffery spanning two decades, one that began when the actress joined the agency as a child.

“Karla joined the Alexanders Talent Management family when she was 12 years old. 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,” Alexander wrote.

The agency added that Jeffery had been more than a client to them, that she had been part of the family, and asked the public to respect the privacy of her relatives as they cope with the loss.

Disney Entertainment, the studio where Jeffery found her greatest fame, also released a statement. The company said her work left a mark on everyone who worked with her.

“Karla Jeffery’s extraordinary talent, warmth and spirit left an indelible mark on everyone who had the honor of working with her. She had a rare gift for connecting with audiences, and her roles brought joy to millions,” Disney’s statement reads.

Co-stars from the film franchise also said their goodbyes publicly. Milo Manheim, who shared the screen with Jeffery in all three “Zombies” films, posted a short message on social media: “Karla. The dearest person I have ever met. I love you.”

Chandler Kinney, who starred alongside Jeffery in the second and third installments of the series, left a similar message: “The brightest light in any room she walked into. The kindest person you could meet. The most beautiful soul.”

Hundreds of comments piled up under the agency’s Instagram post. Many actors and actresses from Disney productions who had worked with Jeffery over the years wrote that they could not believe the news was true.

Karla Jeffery was born on July 10, 1993, in Houston, Texas. She landed her first film role in 2006, in “Phat Girlz.” Two years later she appeared in Nickelodeon’s hit show “iCarly,” and also played the character Kejsu Black in “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Roles in Disney’s “Good Luck Charlie” in 2011 and “Shake It Up” in 2012 followed, along with guest appearances on “Scream Queens” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”

Her breakout role came in 2018, when she became Bree in the first film of the “Zombies” franchise. She reprised the role in the next two installments and also lent her voice to the character in an animated series, which released new seasons in 2024 and 2026. In July 2025, Jeffery appeared at the world premiere of the franchise’s fourth film, “Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires,” in Los Angeles.

Jeffery joined the agency that announced her death when she was just 12 years old, and she stayed with them for the rest of her life, more than two decades. Neither the agency nor Disney has released further details about the circumstances of her death, nor a date for her funeral. American outlets, including ABC News, have reached out to the actress’s management for additional comment, but no response has come back so far.