CHEAT SHEET

01

GONE TOO SOON

Disney Child Star Dies at 33

The actress was best known for her role in Disney’s ‘Zombies’ franchise.

Disney star Carla Jeffery, best known for her role as Bree in the hit Zombies franchise, has died at 33. Jeffery’s death was announced by her manager, Carla Alexander, in an Instagram post on Wednesday. “It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Carla Jeffery, who passed away on September 1, 2026, at just 33 years old,” Alexander wrote. A cause of death has not been disclosed, but Alexander told KTLA that more information would be released in the coming days. Jeffery was only 12 years old when she made her screen debut in Mo’Nique’s 2006 film Phat Girlz. The next year, she began a 10-episode run on Curb Your Enthusiasm over the show’s sixth and seventh seasons. Beginning in 2011, Jeffery had recurring roles in Disney Channel shows including Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up! and Best Friends Whenever. She went on to star as one of the central characters in Disney’s Zombies musical trilogy beginning in 2018. The Daily Beast has reached out to Jeffery’s representative for comment.

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02

DR. FRANK FOREVER

Tim Curry’s Cause of Death Revealed

The actor dealt with health problems for over a decade before his death.

The legendary Rocky Horror Picture Show actor Tim Curry died of coronary artery disease, documents from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reveal. He died at the age of 80 late at night on August 25 in his Los Angeles home. The documents also list a history of stroke and kidney cancer as having contributed to the star’s death. No medical operations were performed for either his coronary artery disease, kidney cancer or history of stroke, the records show. Curry survived a major stroke in 2012 that caused paralysis in the left side of his body and short-term memory loss. The medical emergency left the star unable to speak for weeks and he spent the rest of his life using a wheelchair for mobility. Curry subsequently started focusing mainly on voiceover projects, withdrawing from public life and acting. “I don’t fear death,” the beloved actor told CBS Sunday Morning in October 2025. “I try to avoid it as I think we all do. But I suspect that in the end I will welcome it.”

03

IN THE HOTSEAT

‘Real Housewife’ Speaks Out About Friendship With Ghislaine Maxwell

The reality star told Andy Cohen that it was hard for her to swallow that Maxwell “was a horrible, horrible person doing horrible things.”

The Real Housewives of New York star Carole Radziwill said she had been totally in the dark about her ex-friend Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes with Jeffrey Epstein. At a preview event for Season 16, Radziwill called Maxwell a “horrible person,” even though she is mentioned as a friend of hers in the Epstein files. “Obviously, I didn’t know anything as no one, you know, 20 years ago would have known anything,” Radziwill said. She told Cohen that it was hard for her to swallow that Maxwell, a “friend at some point,” “was a horrible, horrible person doing horrible things.” Radziwill hinted that her connection to Maxwell will be covered in the upcoming season. “It’s not something I shy away from because I think, really, it’s important to talk about and be transparent about,” she said about her name being in the files. “I just think it’s an opportunity to talk about it. There’s real victims and survivors that were brave enough to stand up to these very powerful people.”

04

SAD

Trump Blasted Over ‘Embarrassing’ Disaster Donation

Former insiders say the initial aid contribution fell short, and even the increased sum may not be enough.

Donald Trump’s administration has been admonished for what insiders called an “embarrassing” and “pitiful” disaster response. Nepal and China are reeling after a huge mudslide devastated mountain valleys in the Himalayas. Believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse, it has killed at least 1,000 people and left more than 4,000 missing. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, which has seen around 85 Americans go missing, the U.S. State Department gave just $500,0000 in aid. That number has now been upped to around $3.6 million, which will be used to feed 10,000 affected homes. Some critics say it still falls short. A former USAID disaster response team director, Mark Ward, called the response “embarrassing for the United States and a bit of a slap at Nepal.” The Brookings Institution’s George Ingram agreed. “I was embarrassed for America,” the former House foreign affairs committee staffer said, calling the initial offering of half a million “pitiful.” Trump took a hammer to USAID upon his return to the White House, and what was left was absorbed by Marco Rubio’s State Department. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and State Department for comment.

05

MURDOCH MOVIE MOMENT

Rupert Murdoch’s Daughter Reveals His Reaction to Film Casting

Guy Pearce is playing the media business magnate.

Billionaire media tycoon Rupert Murdoch is “very happy” with the casting of Ink, a new movie about the rise of his British tabloid The Sun, his daughter said. Murdoch’s second-eldest daughter, Elizabeth, told Guy Pearce, who is playing him in the film, that he was pleased with the casting choice. “I had some messaging with Elizabeth [Murdoch], his daughter, and she said ‘Dad’s very happy that you are playing him.’ But he hadn’t seen the film at that point,” Pearce said. Sinners’ Jack O’Connell plays editor Larry Lamb, while The Crown actress Claire Foy co-stars as a female executive at The Sun. The film is adapted from James Graham’s stage play, which Murdoch attended. “He came to see the play twice,” Graham recalled. Murdoch, however, did not share his reaction to the play. “He’s very good at not giving anything away which I think is one of his secrets,” Graham said. The film is slated to be released in theaters on Dec. 11 before going out on Netflix on Jan. 8.

06

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Wild Video Captures Lightning Striking Congressional Staffer

A staffer for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis was struck by lightning as he walked to his car on Staten Island.

A doorbell camera captured the moment a congressional staffer was struck by lightning as he walked to his car. The shocking footage shows Thomas Fahmy, who works for the Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, being struck on his foot as he walks while holding an umbrella. The video shows him fall after the strike, get back up, then walk to his neighbor’s home to take shelter until an ambulance arrived. Miraculously, Fahmy survived the strike without suffering burns—though he said he felt tingling, numbness, a burning sensation, and severe pain in both of his feet. Malliotakis, who represents Staten Island in Congress, expressed relief in a statement that Fahmy, who lives and works on Staten Island in Malliotakis’ local office, survived the strike. For his part, Fahmy said he spent one night in the hospital and, after being discharged, went to buy a Mega Millions lottery ticket.

07

BAD TO WORSE

Eye Bleeding Virus Outbreak Hits Grim Milestone After Sudden Surge

A rare strain is now spreading at an alarming pace.

Congo’s Ebola outbreak has now killed more than 3,000 people as the virus races through the country faster than health authorities can contain it, reports the Associated Press. Government figures released Wednesday show 6,186 confirmed cases and 3,007 deaths since the outbreak was declared a global health emergency in May. The outbreak, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has spread across six provinces and is now Congo’s deadliest Ebola outbreak on record. The virus spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding, including from the eyes. The CDC said containment efforts “remained below established response targets,” warning that the rapid spread indicates “uncontrolled expansion of the outbreak.” Conflict, attacks on health workers, weak infrastructure, and population movement have hampered efforts to track infections. As a result, African health officials estimate that the true case count could be three times higher. No vaccine specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain or an approved treatment currently exists.

08

TERRIFYING INTRUDER

Bear Brutally Mauls Widower to Death Inside Home

He had been recovering from a seizure.

A widower has been mauled to death in his own home by a bear. Benjamin Halona, 67, from New Mexico, was killed in August while he was recovering from a seizure that had hindered his mobility. The tamale seller’s stepson Casey—the child of his wife Bernadine who had died from illness six months prior—had gone to the post office when the attack took place. When he returned home, he found the door ajar despite being sure Halona had locked it behind him, and found a bear inside the house. Halona’s niece, Samantha Vandever Casey, and his sister, Gloria Halona, said Casey hid in his bedroom, barricaded the door with heavy items, and hid in the closet before calling them and emergency services. When the women arrived, the bear was outside, and they honked the horn of their car to scare it away before it was shot by a police officer. It was a “horrific scene,” and “was a lot for us,” Samantha said. “He was a really strong person,” Gloria told the Guardian. “And, even though he didn’t have a lot, he was happy.” In a statement, the Navajo Police Department said the bear, which are sacred to the Navajo Nation, fled into “nearby woods. The bear was located and neutralized. Unfortunately, the male victim succumbed due to injuries.”

09

ON THE RUN

Police Warn Public Not to Approach Fugitive Reality Star

Authorities have warned that Nathan Gallagher may pose a danger.

Australian police are warning the public not to approach Below Deck Mediterranean star Nathan Gallagher after he allegedly fled the country while wanted on domestic violence charges. New South Wales Police say Gallagher, 28, is the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant and may pose a danger. Authorities released a mugshot as they appealed for information about his whereabouts. The warning came after Gallagher failed to appear in court Tuesday to face three charges stemming from an alleged confrontation with his former partner and Below Deck Mediterranean co-star Gael Cameron, with whom he shares a child. Gallagher was arrested in December after police responded to reports of an alleged assault involving a 29-year-old woman near Sydney. Court documents allege he covered Cameron’s mouth and nose, leaving her unable to breathe at times, according to Rolling Stone. He faces charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentionally choking a person without consent. Gallagher has said he has “made mistakes” but also has “evidence” that could present a different account.

10

DEADLY DELUGE

Second Hiker Found Dead in the Grand Canyon Floods

A devoted father of three boys who owned a martial arts studio and “dedicated himself to mentoring young people” has been found dead as rescue efforts ensue.

A second victim of the flash flooding at the Grand Canyon has been identified as search efforts increasingly shift toward recovery. Brent Rosenkranz, a 42-year-old martial arts studio owner remembered as a “loving husband and father of three boys,” was found dead after a torrential downpour engulfed the canyon’s South Rim, a family spokesperson told the New York Post. Rosenkranz was part of a group of three hikers camping at the national park when the deadly flash floods started. Search and rescue units found the body of his other hiking companion, 46-year-old Texas chiropractor John Giusti, but they are still searching for others, including his friend Timothy Smith, 52. Rosencranz’s sister has set up a GoFundMe that has raised $18,000 for his widow, Elisha, and their two boys. “There are no words that can truly express the heartbreak of losing a husband, a father, a son, a brother, and a friend in such a sudden and devastating way,” the GoFundMe profile says. “Please pray. Pray for Elisha. Pray for her three boys. Pray for our entire family as we walk through this unimaginable loss.”