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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Aubrey Plaza details ‘daily struggle' of coping with husband Jeff Baena's death
Aubrey Plaza is sharing how she's coping with grief and loss after the death of her husband, Jeff Baena. The 41-year-old actress started dating the screenwriter and director in 2011, according to People. The couple, who frequently worked together, tied the knot in 2020 and were married for five years. According to CNN, Baena was found dead in the couple's home on Jan. 3. He was 47. During the Aug. 19 episode of the 'Good Hang' podcast, Plaza opened up about her husband's tragic death with host and former 'Parks and Recreation' co-star Amy Poehler. While she said she's 'here and I'm functioning,' Plaza described coping with death as a 'daily struggle.' 'I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I'm OK, but it's a daily struggle, obviously,' she told Poehler, who played Plaza's boss in the sitcom that ran from 2009 to 2015, per IMDB. Plaza went on to compare the grieving process to a scene she watched from 'The Gorge.' 'In the movie, there's like a cliff on one side and there's a cliff on the other side, then there's a gorge in between,' she said of the film, which was released Feb. 14, per IMDB. 'And it's filled with all these like monster people that are trying to get them,' she continued. 'I was like, that feels like what my grief is like — or what grief could be like — where it's like at all times there's like a giant ocean of just awfulness that's right there and I can see it,' she said of the scene. She continued: 'Sometimes I just want to dive into it, and just like be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it's always there.' Plaza and Baena were known to keep their relationship private — despite being together for nearly 14 years. The couple worked together on the 2014 film 'Life After Beth,' which Plaza starred in and Baena directed, per IMDB. He also directed the 2022 film 'Spin Me Round,' which also featured Plaza. In May 2021, while working on 'Spin Me Round,' Plaza casually announced the couple's marriage. 'So proud of my darling husband @jeffbaena for dreaming up another film that takes us to Italia to cause some more trouble,' she wrote in an Instagram post at the time, per E! News. Plaza first opened up about her husband's death three days after the tragedy. 'This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time,' she wrote in a statement shared by E! News on Jan. 6. According to a report by the medical examiner, obtained by People in March, Plaza and Baena had separated in September — months before his death. Authorities later confirmed that the writer and director died by suicide. While speaking to police during the investigation, Plaza confirmed their separation months prior and said he had made concerning remarks in October that led to a welfare check, per People's report. Plaza told authorities that she last heard from Baena three hours before his death when he sent her a text message, according to E! News. He was pronounced dead inside his home at about 10:40 a.m. local time.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What to Know About Aubrey Plaza's Late Husband, Jeff Baena
Aubrey Plaza married her husband, Jeff Baena, in 2021, though they quietly separated in September 2024. He died by suicide in January 2025 NEED TO KNOW Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena secretly wed in 2021 They separated in September 2024 Baena died by suicide at age 47 in January 2025 Aubrey Plaza was married to her husband, Jeff Baena, for nearly four years before he died by suicide on Jan. 3, 2025. Eight months after his death, the actress opened up about the loss for the first time, describing her grief as a "giant ocean of awfulness." "Sometimes I just want to dive into it and just be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it's always there," the Parks and Recreation alum told Amy Poehler on the Good Hang podcast in August 2025. Plaza and Baena started dating in 2011 and secretly tied the knot in 2021. However, according to the medical examiner's report, they were separated at the time of his death. In addition to being spouses, the pair collaborated on many work projects together, including the 2022 film Spin Me Round, which was written and directed by Baena and starred Plaza. The actress credited much of her success to her husband's support. "I think that when you're with someone that is in your field, they understand what you're dealing with on a deeper level. So obviously you are able to support each other and really understand kind of the journey that we're both on," Plaza told PEOPLE in 2019. She went on to say that while "working with your partner can always be challenging," it's "all about balance." Here is everything to know about the late Jeff Baena and his relationship with Aubrey Plaza. He was a writer and director Baena was a writer and director with more than a dozen credits to his name. Most notably, Baena co-wrote the 2004 film I Heart Huckabees starring Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law and Naomi Watts. Shortly after, he made his directorial debut, writing and directing Life After Beth, a zombie comedy starring Plaza. Of the experience, Baena told Seensome during a 2014 interview, "It's all I ever want to do; it felt really comfortable and fun. I've been a writer for twelve years now and it was always a means to an end, I never wanted to be a writer, I wanted to be a director so this was always my intention and it felt right." Baena also created an anthology series titled Cinema Toast, which aired on Showtime in 2021 and marked Plaza's directorial debut. His final project, Spin Me Round, a comedy film starring Plaza, Alison Brie, Debby Ryan and Molly Shannon, was released in 2022. He studied film at New York University Baena was born and raised in Miami, where he was exposed to cinema and culture at a young age, as he told Fast Company during a 2016 interview. He attended film school at New York University and moved to Los Angeles shortly after graduating to begin his career in entertainment. Once in L.A., Baena moved into an apartment and started applying for assistant roles. He worked for film directors Robert Zemeckis and David O. Russell before branching out on his own. A minor car accident helped shape his career It took some time for Baena to find his own footing in the competitive world of film. However, during his time working for Russell, Baena was involved in a minor car accident. Though he wasn't seriously injured, debris from the accident got in his eye and he sought medical attention. As the two directors explained to Fast Company, Russell helped take care of Baena on the day of the accident and the two got to talking. From their conversations, they formed a collaboration that would take Baena from an assistant to a screenwriter. Russell and Baena then wrote a few scripts together, one of which was I Heart Huckabees. In his interview with Seensome, Baena noted that Russell had a "tremendous influence" on his career. He married Plaza in 2021 In 2011, Baena met and started dating Plaza. The couple managed to keep their romance out of the public eye and the world only learned that the two had tied the knot in May 2021, when Plaza referred to Baena as her "darling husband" in an Instagram post. "So proud of my darling husband @jeffbaena for dreaming up another film that takes us to italia to cause some more trouble," her caption read. A rep later confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple had gotten married. He and Plaza collaborated numerous times Baena and Plaza worked together on several projects, including Life After Beth (2014), Joshy (2016), The Little Hours (2017) and Spin Me Round (2022). "I'd say it's an amazing experience to work with your partner in this way. I've worked with Jeff since his first movie. I've seen him evolve and I've seen him grow. It's a really special dynamic that we have. It's challenging at times but it's also really rewarding to do something together like this," Plaza told in 2017. In an interview with PEOPLE, Plaza revealed that she and Baena created their 2021 TV series Cinema Toast during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our house became this strange post-production facility and he's downstairs on his Zooms or on his sessions and I'm upstairs editing, we're just going back and forth," Plaza explained. "Yeah, it was very us. We were not baking sourdough bread, but we were sifting through hours of old movies and footage and re-cutting them together and just letting our minds go on a trip. So it was great." They kept their relationship private Plaza and Baena did their best to keep their personal lives off the internet and out of the public eye. Although Plaza is active on Instagram, she hardly ever shared photos of her husband. On Valentine's Day 2020, however, the actress gave fans a rare glimpse into their romance. Alongside a photo of herself holding a dagger up to Baena's chin while peering up at him, Plaza wrote simply, "and happy valentine's day." In November 2022, Plaza mentioned Baena briefly during her interview with GQ. "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 and comparing yourself to another couple that seems perfect," the actress said when listing all the things that she and her White Lotus character, Harper, had in common. He died in January 2025 Baena died by suicide on Jan. 3, 2025, PEOPLE confirmed. He was 47. 'This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time," Plaza said in a statement to PEOPLE three days after her husband's death. TMZ was the first to report the news. Law enforcement sources told the outlet that an assistant discovered Baena's body at a Los Angeles-area home around 10:30 a.m. PT, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. In February 2025, Plaza honored her late husband at the SNL50: The Anniversary Special show by wearing a tie-dye shirt — similar to the tie-dye pajamas she and Baena wore on their wedding day. It wasn't until August 2025 that Plaza spoke publicly about Baena's sudden death on Poehler's podcast, Good Hang. "Overall, I'm here and I'm functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I'm OK, but it's like a daily struggle, obviously," she said, responding to the host's question about how she was coping with the tragedy. He and Plaza separated in September 2024 The medical examiner's report, which was released in March 2025, revealed that Baena and Plaza had been "experiencing marital difficulties" before the director's death. The pair had officially separated in September 2024. The report also mentioned that Baena made "concerning remarks" to Plaza in October 2024 that "prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband." Plaza's last communication with Baena was on the day of his death at 10:36 a.m. ET. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 24/7. Read the original article on People
Perth Now
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Debby Ryan pays emotional tribute to 'dear friend' Jeff Baena six months after his death
Debby Ryan "lost a dear friend" in Jeff Baena when he took his own life. The 32-year-old actress worked with the late screenwriter on his films Horse Girl and Spin Me Round and took to social media on Sunday (30.06.25) - which would have been his 48th birthday - to pay a legnhty tribute to her friend. She wrote on Instagram: "Bear with me, I've never been a public griever, and have a hard time sharing fragile feelings with strangers. "Meanwhile I've thought about him every day for the past six months. Ok see at the beginning of the year, I lost a dear friend, cherished collaborator and mentor in Jeff Baena. It's been very hard and heavy, and a lot of people lost him, because he was like the nucleus of this whole Jeff universe. "I've discovered the stages of grief aren't linear; they're like space stations I've docked at, in between periods of floating. My hope is they eventually feel more like satellites— always orbiting, often in view, but not a place to live. "But today on his birthday, I want you to know a few things about Jeff— he was generous. Warm while principled. Intentional with a casual lilt. Usually right about stuff we have no way of knowing about. Spirited in debate. "His standard for quality was in the ingredients— just like his casts. He had a menagerie of players and games, and it was a real collection. " The former Disney Channel star thanked Jeff - who was married to Hollywood actress Aubrey Plaza from 2021 until his death - for "believing in" her throughout their time together, and hailed him as a "rare person" who became an "active person" in all aspects of her life. She added: "He believed in me. I feel really proud to be able to say that. Jeff was a rare person in the world who gave me the dignity of introducing myself, of being taken at my present. And I liked who he saw. Like good friendship helps you love yourself, good collaboration gives you the chance to be the best evolution of yourself. "From the moment we met, Jeff was an active person in my life- personally and professionally. He somehow saw me, trusted me, and vouched for me from jump. He brought me to my first film festival, after putting me in his and Alison Brie's film Horse "Girl, a film largely improvised based on an outline— which is a process he was accustomed to working but was a big leap for me. He never doubted me."
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Aubrey Plaza, husband Jeff Baena were separated when he died
Three months after filmmaker Jeff Baena's death at 47 years old, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Department has made public some new information from its investigation. An investigative summary report from the medical examiner obtained Wednesday by USA TODAY stated that Aubrey Plaza and Baena had been separated since September, per a witness statement Plaza provided to police. People was first to report the news. Baena was pronounced dead at his LA residence at around 10:39 a.m. on Jan. 3, according to the medical examiner's case on his death. The cause of death was determined to be suicide, and no foul play was suspected. "This is an unimaginable tragedy," a statement on behalf of Plaza and the Baena family, issued Jan. 6, read. "We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time." Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. The couple started dating in 2010 and were quietly married in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Baena and Plaza have collaborated on numerous projects, including the 2014 dark comedy "Life After Beth," which Baena wrote and directed. The film was nominated for the grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The couple most recently worked together on the 2022 romantic comedy "Spin Me Round," which featured Plaza alongside stars Alison Brie, Jake Picking and Stella Chesnut. Baena is survived by Plaza, mother Barbara Stern and stepfather Roger Stern, father Scott Baena and stepmother Michele Baena, brother Brad Baena and stepsiblings Bianca Gabay and Jed Fluxman. If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741. Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aubrey Plaza was separated from husband months before his death by suicide
Actress Aubrey Plaza was separated from her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, in the months before he died by suicide, authorities have confirmed. The separation was revealed in a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report obtained by multiple outlets on Wednesday. According to People, the report says Baena had been separated from Plaza since last September, roughly four months before his death. The 47-year-old screenwriter and director was discovered dead by his dog walker at his L.A. area home on the morning of Jan. 3. The medical examiner later ruled Baena's death as suicide by hanging. No alcohol or illegal drugs were found in his system and no suicide note was left at the scene, according to TMZ. Per the examiner's report, the couple had been 'experiencing recent marital difficulties,' with Plaza having moved to New York in September. A month later, Baena allegedly made 'concerning remarks' that prompted Plaza 'to call a friend to perform a welfare check,' the documents state. Plaza later told police that Baena had been attending therapy since the October incident. He doesn't appear to have made any additional comments that were cause for concern, and Plaza said there'd been no previous suicide attempts, reported TMZ. Authorities said Plaza last heard from Baena when he sent her a text message just three hours before he was pronounced dead at 10:39 a.m., though it's unclear what the message said. Plaza and Baena first began dating in 2011 and tied the knot in 2021. Throughout their relationship, they worked together on multiple projects, with Plaza appearing in his final feature film, 2022's 'Spin Me Round.' Days following Baena's death, Plaza and his family issued a joint statement calling his passing an 'unimaginable tragedy.' 'We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,' they said. 'Please respect our privacy during this time.'
