Last Friday, Aubrey Plaza, the beloved star of Parks and Recreation, The White Lotus, and Agatha All Along, lost her husband, Jeff Baena. The pair had been married since 2021, though had been a couple, and creative collaborators since 2011. Before his death, Baena directed the 2016 film Joshy, which co-starred Plaza, as well as 2014's The Little Hours, in which Plaza was the lead. Baena also co-wrote the 2004 indie-hit, I Heart Huckabees.
Now, for the first time since his death on January 3, Plaza has broken her very understandable silence. In a statement via People, Plaza said: "This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time."
In a report from TMZ, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner determined that Baena's cause of death was suicide by hanging. It is unclear what motivated his suicide at this time.
Plaza and Baena appeared to be a powerful couple who very much enjoyed their marriage and various collaborations. In 2021, she referred to him as her "darling husband," in reference to their work together on the comedy film, Spin Me Round.
Baena began his career in film as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis and worked on the films What Lies Beneath and Castaway. Baena's own creative output, from I Heart Huckabees to Horse Girl was often marked by equal parts quirkiness and darkness. His frequent collaborator, Alison Brie, with whom he wrote Horse Girl, commented on his passing on her Instagram, simply saying, "Rest in peace, my friend."
