Who Was Aubrey Plaza's Late Husband? All About Jeff Baena

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Mark Davis/Getty

Aubrey Plazais mourning the sudden loss of her husband,Jeff Baena.

The actress credited much of her success to the support of her husband and frequent collaborator.

“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 — both personal and professional — with Aubrey Plaza.

He was a writer and director

David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Baena was a writer and director with more than a dozen credits to his name. Most notably, Baena co-wrote the 2004 filmI Heart Huckabeesstarring Jason Schwartzman,Jude LawandNaomi Watts. Shortly after, he made his directorial debut, writing and directingLife After Beth, a zombie comedy starring Plaza.

Of the experience, BaenatoldSeensomeduring 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.”

He studied film at New York University

Monica Schipper/WireImage

Baena was born and raised in Miami, where he was exposed to cinema and culture at a young age, as he toldFast Companyduring 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 andDavid O. Russellbefore branching out on his own.

A minor car accident helped shape his career

Monica Schipper/FilmMagic

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 toFast 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 wasI Heart Huckabees.

In his interview with Seensome, Baena noted that Russell had a “tremendous influence” on his career.

He married Plaza in 2021

George Pimentel/Getty

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 anInstagrampost.

“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 thecouple had gotten married.

He and Plaza collaborated numerous times

J. Countess/Getty

Baena and Plaza worked together on several projects, includingLife After Beth(2014),Joshy(2016),The Little Hours(2017) and SpinMe 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,” Plazatold MovieFreak.comin 2017.

“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

Aubrey Plaza Instagram

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. OnValentine’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, Plazamentioned Baena briefly during her interview withGQ.

“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 herWhite Lotuscharacter, Harper, had in common.

He loved Italy

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Italy had a special place in Baena’s heart. He opened up about his love for the country inan interview with Deadlinein March 2022.

“I shot a film there in 2016 calledThe Little Hoursand had such an awesome time shooting there,” he told the outlet. “I learned the differences between shooting in America and Italy, and having been there I wanted to go back knowing what I know and do it again. It’s the only country I can think of where every time I go, I learn something new. It’s my all-time favorite country.”

He died in January 2025

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena in 2017.Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Michael Tran/FilmMagic

“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.

TMZwas 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.

Effie Orfanides

source: people.com