Jeff Baena, indie filmmaker and husband of Aubrey Plaza, dies at 47

Jeff Baena, an independent filmmaker who directed wife Aubrey Plaza in “The Little Hours” and co-wrote David O. Russell’s “I Heart Huckabees,” has died at 47.

Baena died Friday at his residence, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, which determined the cause of death to be suicide.

Born June 29, 1977, Baena attended New York University film school and was a production assistant on Robert Zemeckis films before working with Russell. During that period they collaborated on the writing of “I Heart Huckabees,” a dark comedy released in 2004 that starred Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin and Mark Wahlberg.

Baena then went on his own, writing and directing “Life After Beth,” a 2014 zombie comedy starring Plaza toward the end of her run on “Parks and Recreation.” The two kept their relationship private, with Plaza referring to him as her husband in 2021.

She also starred in “The Little Hours,” a 2017 dark comedy Baena directed and co-wrote about a servant who takes refuge with nuns during the Middle Ages, and appeared in 2022’s “Spin Me Round,” the last film Baena directed. He co-wrote “Spin Me Round” with star Alison Brie.

Baena also wrote and directed 2016’s “Joshy,” starring Thomas Middleditch, and “Horse Girl,” a 2020 Netflix release also starring Brie, co-writer on the project. His credits also include the 2021 Showtime series “Cinema Toast,” starring Brie, Christina Ricci and Chloe Fineman.

Representatives for Plaza, who received an Emmy nomination for her performance in the second season of “The White Lotus,” had no comment on Baena’s death. Plaza was scheduled to speak at Sunday’s 82nd Annual Golden Globes’ awards ceremony.

In addition to his wife, Baena is survived by his mother, Barbara Stern; father Scott Baena; stepfather Roger Stern; stepmother Michele Baena; brother Brad Baena; stepsister Bianca Gabay; and stepbrother Jed Fluxman.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a professional and call 9-8-8. The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline 988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors. Text “HOME” to 741741 in the U.S. and Canada to reach the Crisis Text Line.