According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, the cause was suicide; Baena was a renowned independent filmmaker in the United States and had been in a relationship with the actress since 2011.
Actress and producer Aubrey Plaza, 40, shared a statement about the death of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, who was found dead in Los Angeles last Friday (3). According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, the cause of death was suicide. He was 47 years old. “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who offered support”, declared Plaza and Baena’s family in a statement released on Monday (6). “Please respect our privacy during this time.”
Baena, known for his work on the independent, was born in and graduated from New York University. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles, where he began his career as a screenwriter and director. He rose to prominence by co-writing the film Huckabees – Life Is a Comedy (2004) and directed productions such as Life After Beth (2014) e The Little Hours (2017), both starring Plaza. In 2021, he created the anthology series Toast Cinemawhich marked Plaza’s directorial debut.
Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011 and married in May 2021, keeping their relationship largely private. In interviews, the actress commented that sharing the same industry helped them have mutual empathy, although balancing work and personal life was a constant challenge. Baena is survived by his wife, mother Barbara Stern, stepfather Roger Stern, father Scott Baena, stepmother Michele Baena and brother Brad Baena. The family asked for privacy to be respected at this time of mourning.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know needs help, seek support from specialized services, such as the Centro de Valorização da Vida (CVV), which offers free emotional support by calling 188.
Published by Felipe Dantas
*Report produced with the help of AI
