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

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Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb, FILE
ByBethany Braun-Silva
January 07, 2025, 1:00 AM

Aubrey Plaza has issued a statement following the death of her husband, Jeff Baena.

News of Baena's death, was confirmed by authorities over the weekend. The film director and screenwriter was 47.

"This is an unimaginable tragedy," the statement from Plaza and the Baena/Stern family said on Monday. "We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time."

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Baena was best known for directing the horror-comedy "Life After Beth," the dark comedy "Joshy" and for co-writing the cult classic "I Heart Huckabees" with filmmaker David O. Russell.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed Baena's death to ABC News.

A representative for Plaza directed ABC News to an article from Deadline on his death.

In this Aug. 8, 2014, file photo, writer/director Jeff Baena and actress Aubrey Plaza pose for a portrait during Sundance NEXT Fest in Los Angeles.
Mark Davis/Getty Images for Sundance NEXT, FILE

The 47-year-old was discovered in his home by an assistant, according to law enforcement sources who spoke to ABC News.

The call reporting his death came in around 10:30 p.m. Friday night, the sources said.

The county medical examiner on Saturday afternoon said Baena died by suicide.

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Baena and Plaza had been married since 2021 and frequently worked together on projects, with Plaza starring in several of Baena's films, including "Life After Beth," "The Little Hours" and "Spin Me Round."

TMZ was the first to report the news.

If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.

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