Writer and director Jeff Baena, who was married to actress Aubrey Plaza, has passed away at the age of 47.
According to TMZ, Baena’s body was discovered by an assistant at a home in the Los Angeles area on the morning of Friday, January 3, around 10:30 a.m. local time. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner confirmed his death was ruled a suicide by hanging.
Born and raised in Miami, Baena attended film school at New York University before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment.
Throughout his career, Baena accumulated more than a dozen directing and film credits. He co-wrote the 2004 movie I Heart Huckabees, which starred Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, and Naomi Watts. A few years later, he made his directorial debut with Life After Beth, a zombie comedy featuring Plaza.
After the release of his 2020 film Horse Girl, Decider spoke to Baena about the Alison Brie-starrer’s ambiguous ending.
In 2021, Baena created Cinema Toast, an anthology series that aired on Showtime and marked Plaza’s directorial debut.
Baena and Plaza began dating in 2011 and maintained a private relationship. They never publicly announced their engagement or marriage, but in May 2021, Plaza revealed their union in an Instagram post.
“So proud of my darling husband @jeffbaena for dreaming up another film that takes us to Italia to cause some more trouble,” she wrote, confirming their marriage.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or visiting 988lifeline.org.
The post R.I.P. Jeff Baena: Director & Husband To Aubrey Plaza Dead At 47 appeared first on Decider.
