US actress Aubrey Plaza and the family of her filmmaker husband Jeff Baena are mourning his sudden passing, describing it as an “unimaginable tragedy”. Baena, aged 47, died last Friday, with the Los Angeles County medical examiner confirming that he took his own life.
The director and screenwriter was discovered at a residence near the Fern Dell Nature Trail in the Hollywood Hills, with hanging being cited as the cause of death. “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.” read a statement from Plaza and the Baena/Stern family.
Baena collaborated with Plaza, 40, on the 2014 horror film ‘Life After Beth’ and the 2017 historical comedy ‘The Little Hours’. The couple had been together since around 2011 and tied the knot approximately ten years later.
Baena’s writing credits include the 2020 thriller ‘Horse Girl’, featuring Alison Brie, and the 2022 dark comedy ‘Spin Me Round’, which he also directed. He was also involved in the 2004 comedy ‘I Heart Huckabees’ with stars such as Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, Dustin Hoffman, and Mark Wahlberg.
Additionally, he created the anthology comedy series ‘Cinema Toast’, which included an episode directed by Plaza and another starring ‘Community’ actress Brie. Plaza, known for her breakout role in the comedy series ‘Parks And Recreation’, was scheduled to present at the Golden Globes ceremony on Sunday before the tragic news of her husband’s death emerged earlier this week.
The Brutalist filmmaker Brady Corbet, who was not present during the ceremony, used his acceptance speech after clinching the best director for a motion picture drama to express his condolences. “My heart is with Aubrey Plaza, and Jeff’s family,” he declared on stage.
Plaza, known for her role in the second series of HBO’s dark comedy White Lotus, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2023, and the Disney+ series Agatha All Along, has also starred in popular films such as Megalopolis, My Old Ass, Ingrid Goes West, Dirty Grandpa and Emily The Criminal. Speaking to The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December 2021, the actress revealed that she and Baena decided to tie the knot after celebrating their 10th anniversary during the Covid pandemic, having “got a little bored one night”.
She explained that they found an online wedding officiant to conduct the ceremony in their garden, where she “created a very quick love altar in our yard” for their nuptials.
Samaritans operate a helpline available 24/7, 365 days a year, at 116 123. They can also be reached via email at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to locate your nearest branch.
