The director spouse of American actress Aubrey Plaza has taken his own life, as determined by a medical examiner.
Jeff Baena, aged 47, was declared deceased at 10:39 AM on Friday in a residence situated near the Hollywood Hills and Los Feliz neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
The medical examiner for Los Angeles County disclosed that his remains will be handed over to his family.
The filmmaker collaborated with Parks And Recreation star Plaza, 40, on the horror movie Life After Beth in 2014 and the historical comedy The Little Hours in 2017.
The pair had been in a romantic relationship since approximately 2011 and united in matrimony in 2021.
Pic: AP
Previously, Plaza mentioned on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that she and Baena “experienced a bit of boredom one evening” during the COVID crisis, which prompted them to tie the knot after celebrating their tenth anniversary.
She recalled locating a wedding officiant online to conduct the ceremony in their backyard, where she “quickly fashioned a love altar in our garden” for their nuptials.
Pic: AP
Baena penned the thriller Horse Girl in 2020, which starred Alison Brie, as well as the dark comedy Spin Me Round in 2022, both of which he directed himself.
In addition, he co-wrote the 2004 comedy I Heart Huckabees with director David O Russell, featuring an impressive ensemble cast that included Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, Dustin Hoffman, Naomi Watts, Lily Tomlin, and Mark Wahlberg.
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Baena was also the creator of the anthology comedy series Cinema Toast, which featured an episode directed by Plaza and another that starred Community actress Brie.
On social media, Hollywood comedian and actor Marc Maron shared, “Very sorrowful about the unfortunate departure of a genuine artist and kind individual.”
The Sundance Film Festival, which hosted the premiere of Baena’s directorial debut Life After Beth in 2014, expressed: “We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jeff Baena for sharing his narratives and enhancing the enduring memories we have created together.
“Jeff, we will miss your wit, humor, and adventurous vision. Rest in peace, dear friend.”
Plaza was revealed as a speaker at the Golden Globes ceremony on Sunday earlier this week prior to her husband’s passing.
She received a Golden Globe nomination in 2023 for her performance in the second season of HBO’s dark comedy, White Lotus, and is widely recognized for her work in the Disney+ series Agatha All Along, along with films such as Megalopolis, My Old Ass, Ingrid Goes West, Dirty Grandpa, and Emily The Criminal.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed that it responded to the location where Baena passed away, stating that a coroner will oversee the inquiry.
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