Filmmaker Jeff Baena, best known for his work in indie cinema and as the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza, has tragically passed away at the age of 47.
Now Plaza’s final Instagram post with and about him is circulating.
Baena was found dead at his Los Angeles home on January 3, 2025. Authorities have indicated his death was likely a suicide, though an official cause has not been confirmed.
Born on June 29, 1977, in Miami, Florida, Baena pursued his passion for film at New York University. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles, where he began his career as a production assistant for director Robert Zemeckis.
He later worked closely with filmmaker David O. Russell, co-writing the 2004 cult hit I Heart Huckabees.
Baena transitioned to directing with his 2014 debut Life After Beth, a zombie comedy that starred Plaza. Their personal and professional lives often intertwined, leading to collaborations on films such as The Little Hours (2017) and Spin Me Round (2022).
Reflecting on their creative partnership, Plaza told People in 2019: “I think that when you’re with someone that is in your field, they understand what you’re dealing with on a deeper level.”
The couple began dating in 2011 and tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2021. Plaza shared her pride in Baena’s creative achievements on social media, referring to him as her “darling husband.”
In her final Instagram post with him, she expressed admiration, writing, “So proud of my darling husband @jeffbaena for dreaming up another film that takes us to…”
Baena’s loss has left family, friends, and fans mourning a life cut short but celebrating the creative spark he brought to his work and his relationships.
He is survived by his wife, Aubrey Plaza; his mother, Barbara Stern; stepfather, Roger Stern; father, Scott Baena; stepmother, Michele Baena; brother, Brad Baena; and stepsiblings, Bianca Gabay and Jed Flux.
For anyone struggling with this news or dealing with similar challenges, help is available. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers confidential support 24/7. Call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
