The sudden, tragic death of Aubrey Plaza's husband, director Jeff Baena (47)

Known as a director, screenwriter, and the loving husband of American comedy actress Aubrey Plaza, Jeff Beana tragically chose to end his own life at the age of 47.

Jeff Baena wrote and directed works like 'Life After Beth' and 'Joshy.' He got married to Aubrey Plaza in 2021. The actress has not commented so far on her husband's passing. 

TMZ was the first media outlet to report his death. It stated that Baena's assistant had found him at his home in Los Angeles on January 3. Authorities conducted preliminary investigations and ruled that he had taken his own life.

Born on June 29, 1977, in Miami, Florida, Jeff Baena had been active in the American entertainment industry for over two decades. His first writing project had been 'I Heart Huckabees' in 2004.

According to the BBC, Jeff Baena pursued a career in film early on after graduating from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. He began his career working for Robert Zemeckis, one of the US' top filmmakers.

According to Fast Company, Jeff Baena reached one of the pivotal points in his career when he managed to land a job as an assistant editor under the American writer and director David O. Russell.

The same article from Fast Company adds that a freak accident, injuring his eye, caused Jeff Baena and David O. Russell to work even more closely together. The two then formed a collaborative team and worked on several scripts together.

The collaborative efforts between Jeff Baena and David O. Russell produced some of Baena's most notable works, reports IndieWire. They include his directorial debut in 'Life After Beth' in 2024. The movie featured the actress who would later become his wife, Aubrey Plaza.

According to GQ, Jeff Baena and Aubrey Plaza had met in 2011 "over a game of Balderdash." She told the magazine in 2022, comparing her marriage to that of her character in 'The White Lotus': "I've been with my husband for 12 years. I relate to being in a relationship that has peaks and valleys, and going through a rough patch..."

After 'Life After Beth,' the couple had frequent collaborations in Hollywood. In their private lives, they considered having children but remained childless, the actress told GQ. The director has no children from other relationships. His legacy consists of his loving marriage and a series of great films.

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