RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
01-04-25 | 09:17 AM
#1
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RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
Filmmaker Jeff Baena -- best known for directing films like "Life After Beth" and "The Little Hours," and the husband of Aubrey Plaza, has died ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police and fire responded to a Los Angeles-area home Friday around 10:30 AM for a death investigation ... after an assistant discovered him dead.
Baena was pronounced dead at the scene ... law enforcement says he died by suicide.
After getting his film degree at New York University, Jeff moved to LA to launch his movie career, initially landing lower-level jobs with famous directors such as Robert Zemeckis and David O. Russell.
It was his work with Russell that put him on the map ... the two collaborated on four screenplays -- including "I Heart Huckabees," starring Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin.
Around this time, Baena began focusing on directing his own movies, such as his first feature, the 2014 horror-comedy, "Life After Beth," starring John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon and Aubrey Plaza.
Baena also directed the 2016 flick, "Joshy," and 2017's "The Little Hours," as well as 2020's "Horse Girl."
In 2021, Aubrey revealed she and Jeff had tied the knot in an Instagram post after about a decade of dating -- as you know, her career kicked off when she starred in the show "Parks and Rec" in 2009 ... and has gone on to appear in projects like "Emily The Criminal" and "The White Lotus."
She also gushed over their wedding while appearing on Drew Barrymore's talk how back in 2021 ... explaining how it was to be married to someone you work with as well.
We've reached out to Aubrey's reps ... so far, no word back.
Baena was 47.
RIP
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police and fire responded to a Los Angeles-area home Friday around 10:30 AM for a death investigation ... after an assistant discovered him dead.
Baena was pronounced dead at the scene ... law enforcement says he died by suicide.
After getting his film degree at New York University, Jeff moved to LA to launch his movie career, initially landing lower-level jobs with famous directors such as Robert Zemeckis and David O. Russell.
It was his work with Russell that put him on the map ... the two collaborated on four screenplays -- including "I Heart Huckabees," starring Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin.
Around this time, Baena began focusing on directing his own movies, such as his first feature, the 2014 horror-comedy, "Life After Beth," starring John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon and Aubrey Plaza.
Baena also directed the 2016 flick, "Joshy," and 2017's "The Little Hours," as well as 2020's "Horse Girl."
In 2021, Aubrey revealed she and Jeff had tied the knot in an Instagram post after about a decade of dating -- as you know, her career kicked off when she starred in the show "Parks and Rec" in 2009 ... and has gone on to appear in projects like "Emily The Criminal" and "The White Lotus."
She also gushed over their wedding while appearing on Drew Barrymore's talk how back in 2021 ... explaining how it was to be married to someone you work with as well.
We've reached out to Aubrey's reps ... so far, no word back.
Baena was 47.
RIP
01-04-25 | 09:18 AM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
Wow... young. Aubrey has got to be devastated.
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majorjoe23 (01-04-25)
01-04-25 | 09:42 AM
#3
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
Ugh. That's awful. I really liked The Little Hours, weird as it was. Feel awful for Aubrey.
01-04-25 | 09:51 AM
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Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
that is so sad. so young and seemingly having a full life. then to do what he did is disheartening. thoughts and prayers to his family and especially Plaza.
01-04-25 | 09:59 AM
#5
Moderator
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
Awful news.
Obviously I don't know these people, but I have always enjoyed what I've seen of Aubrey Plaza, and it is very sad.
Ending your own life is never the answer. You are loved. And you are worth loving. If you in danger, call 911. If you need to talk, call 988. Be kind to yourself.
Obviously I don't know these people, but I have always enjoyed what I've seen of Aubrey Plaza, and it is very sad.
Ending your own life is never the answer. You are loved. And you are worth loving. If you in danger, call 911. If you need to talk, call 988. Be kind to yourself.
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01-04-25 | 10:20 AM
#6
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
What? No! This is horrible! I discovered him a couple years ago after watching Life After Beth and have slowly been making my way through his filmography. I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen so far, and it’s sad that we’ll never get another movie from him. And this is so terrible for his friends and family too.
01-04-25 | 10:34 AM
#7
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Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
That's horrible!
01-04-25 | 10:49 AM
#8
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Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
I love The Little Hours. I'll watch it tonight or tomorrow. So sad to hear.
01-04-25 | 10:57 AM
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Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
01-04-25 | 11:32 AM
#10
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Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
Oddly enough, the financier of The Little Hours and Black Bear also died very recently: https://deadline.com/2025/01/william...ia-1236245641/
01-04-25 | 11:39 AM
#11
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
Oddly enough, the financier of The Little Hours and Black Bear also died very recently: https://deadline.com/2025/01/william...ia-1236245641/
And from that articke:
At the time of his death, Santor had been suspended from his role as CEO at Productivity following allegations about “financial mismanagement,” first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. According to that report, Productivity Media had placed Santor on a “temporary leave of absence” while an auditor was brought in to check its books and review loans.
01-04-25 | 08:15 PM
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Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
Woow. Thats aweful.
01-04-25 | 10:43 PM
#13
DVD Talk God
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
I'm not familiar with Jeff Baena, but this is such a tragedy for Aubrey Plaza. I can't imagine the grief she's going through.
01-05-25 | 08:09 AM
#14
Political Exile
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
I'm not trying to diminish whatever she is going through, but in my experience with suicides of acquaintances, the spouse may be the least shocked since they have been dealing first hand with someone who was majorly depressed and suicidal for many years. It's the close circle of friends they hid this behavior from that will not have seen this coming at all. That assumes that this wasn't externally triggered recently from a life event.
01-05-25 | 09:19 AM
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
Is the information that this was a suicide only coming from TMZ, or are there other sources, as well?
01-05-25 | 09:21 AM
#16
Thread Starter
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Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
A cause of death for Jeff Baena, the indie writer/filmmaker known for Life After Beth and The Little Hours, has been revealed, per a report by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner. The screenwriter and director, who married actress/producer Aubrey Plaza in 2021, died by suicide.
Per additional report details, Baena was found at his residence after taking his life by hanging. Born June 29, 1977, Baena died on Jan. 3. He was 47.
Per additional report details, Baena was found at his residence after taking his life by hanging. Born June 29, 1977, Baena died on Jan. 3. He was 47.
01-05-25 | 09:59 AM
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
This is incredibly sad. The guy was fortunate enough to have a stable career in Hollywood, and was married to Aubrey Plaza. This really illustrates the fact that nothing can fill whatever hole depression creates in one's life once it takes hold. Plaza is probably a wreck.
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Nesbit (01-05-25)
01-05-25 | 04:29 PM
#18
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Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
01-05-25 | 04:45 PM
#19
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Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
I'm not trying to diminish whatever she is going through, but in my experience with suicides of acquaintances, the spouse may be the least shocked since they have been dealing first hand with someone who was majorly depressed and suicidal for many years. It's the close circle of friends they hid this behavior from that will not have seen this coming at all. That assumes that this wasn't externally triggered recently from a life event.
03-20-25 | 12:43 PM
#20
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
They'd been separated for 4 months.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...th-1236168415/
I guess it probably makes it easier to recover when you're not facing a costly divorce.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...th-1236168415/
I guess it probably makes it easier to recover when you're not facing a costly divorce.
03-20-25 | 12:46 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
There's nothing to suggest that Aubrey Plaza is relieved in anyway now that she's not facing a costly divorce.
08-19-25 | 02:48 PM
#22
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: RIP: Director Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), husband of Aubrey Plaza, dead at 47
Aubrey Plaza opens up a little to Amy Poehler about her grief
