Aubrey Plaza has issued her first statement following the devastating loss of her husband, writer and director Jeff Baena, who passed away at the age of 47.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time,” Plaza shared in a statement to People magazine.
Baena’s death, confirmed as a suicide by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, occurred last Friday. The couple, who began their relationship in 2011 and married in 2021, shared a deep personal and professional connection, collaborating on numerous projects throughout their time together.
Plaza, who was slated to present at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, understandably did not attend. Director Brady Corbet, while accepting an award for The Brutalist, paid tribute to her during his speech, saying, “Tonight my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family.”
Baena was widely recognized for his creative works, including the horror-comedy Life After Beth (2014), the historical comedy The Little Hours (2017), and more recent projects such as Cinema Toast (2021) and Spin Me Round (2022), all of which featured his wife. His other credits include co-writing I Heart Huckabees (2004) and writing/directing the indie dramedy Joshy (2016).
In a 2022 interview, Baena spoke warmly about his creative partnership with Plaza, noting, “Having that sort of shorthand and that sort of connection is amazing. The opportunities to create together and do something where we’re both fulfilled—that’s so rare.”
Baena is survived by Plaza, his parents, step-parents, and siblings.
The entertainment world mourns the loss of a talented filmmaker whose work left a lasting impact on the industry and whose collaborations with Plaza will be remembered as a testament to their shared vision and bond.
Source: Swifteradio.com
