Indie filmmaker and husband of actress Aubrey Plaza has passed away age 47.
The sudden loss was first reported by TMZ on January 4, 2024, after news of his passing made headlines around the world.
The director was reportedly found by his assistant at his Los Angeles home, where he was declared dead at the scene.
Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena were together for over a decade before his untimely death, marrying in celebration of their 10 year anniversary during lockdown.
The couple tied the knot at home, in what Plaza described as a “witchy affair” in an interview with Ellen DeGenerous after lockdown ended:
“I created a very quick love altar in our yard. Facts of our love, little stones, smoke, fire. Things of that nature,” she told host DeGeneres.
“Then the man from Alhambra showed up in a Hawaiian shirt with a briefcase [to perform the ceremony]. … I can’t remember a lot of it, it was fuzzy. But I’m pretty sure it’s legal.”
In an interview with People, Aubrey Plaza spoke about her directorial debut and collaboration with husband Jeff Baena on the 2022 series Cinema Toast.
“Our house became this strange post-production facility and he’s downstairs on his Zooms or on his sessions and I’m upstairs editing, we’re just going back and forth,” Plaza said. “Yeah, it was very us. We were not baking sourdough bread, but we were sifting through hours of old movies and footage and re-cutting them together and just letting our minds go on a trip. So it was great.”
Jeff Baena was best known for his directorial debut, Life After Beth (2014), critically-acclaimed The Little Hours (2017), and co-writing I Heart Huckabees (2004), which was nominated for the 2004 Gotham Award for Best Feature.
Under a tribute shared by comedian and actor Adam Pally that read: “My heart breaks for my friend Aubrey and the Baena family and for all of us who spent time on his sets or at his house or in… his orbit. Thanks for believing in me Jeff, may your memory be a blessing,” Jeff Baena’s brother Brad responded with a gut-wrenching “I am broken”.
Aubrey Plaza has since issued a statement on behalf of the members of the Baena and Stern families, thanking everyone for their ongoing support.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,” reads the joint statement.
“Please respect our privacy during this time.”
If you require mental health support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online or call Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online: Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or chat online. If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
