Jeff Baena Dies: The Indie Filmmaker And Husband Of Actress Aubrey Plaza Was 47

by · Forbes
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: Director Jeff Baena arrives for the screening of film "Spin Me Round" during ... [+] the Seattle Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre on April 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)Getty Images

Jeff Baena, the screenwriter and film director, and husband of actress Aubrey Plaza (The White Lotus), died on January 3. He was 47. An assistant reportedly discovered his body at a home in Los Angeles, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to a report by the Country of Los Angeles Medical Examiner, the cause of death was suicide. Per additional report details, Baena was found at his residence after taking his life by hanging.

Born in Miami on June 29, 1977, Jeff Baena began his career as a production assistant for director Robert Zemeckis, working on a number of his films.

Baena then took a job as an assistant editor for writer-director David O. Russell, where the two began collaborating on scripts together. One of those scripts was I Heart Huckabees, which Russell directed in 2004. At the same time, Baena penned the zombie comedy Life After Beth, which marked his debut as a director.

LOS ANGELES, CA: (L-R) Actors Molly Shannon, Dane DeHaan, Aubrey Plaza, writer/director Jeff Baena ... [+] and actor Matthew Gray Gubler attend the screening of "Life After Beth" with Father John Misty in concert during Sundance NEXT FEST at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on August 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage)WireImage

The next film for Baena was The Little Hours in 2017, with Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dave Franco, Kate Micucci, John C. Reilly, and Molly Shannon. Baena teamed with Alison Brie again in Horse Girl, which opened in 2020.

Baena also created an anthology series for Showtime titled Cinema Toast in 2021. And his now final film, Spin Me Round, premiered in 2022.

Debby Ryan, Producer Dylan Sellers, Director Jeff Baena and Producer Chris Parker seen at IFC Films ... [+] presents SPIN ME ROUND Los Angeles Special Screening, Los Angeles, CA, USA - 17 August 2022 (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for IFC Films)Getty Images

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Baena is survived by wife Aubrey Plaza, mom Barbara Stern and stepfather Roger Stern, dad Scott Baena and stepmother Michele Baena, brother Brad Baena and stepsister and stepbrother Bianca Gabay and Jed Fluxman.