Filmmaker Jeff Baena, best known for directing films such as “Life After Beth” and “The Little Hours,” has died at the age of 47. Law enforcement sources report that police and fire personnel responded to a Los Angeles home on Friday morning following the discovery of his body by an assistant. Baena was pronounced dead at the scene; his death has been ruled a suicide.
Baena’s career began after graduating from New York University with a film degree. He moved to Los Angeles and worked his way up, taking on lower-level positions with renowned directors like Robert Zemeckis and David O. Russell. His collaboration with Russell proved particularly influential, resulting in four co-written screenplays, including “I Heart Huckabees,” starring Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin.
This period marked a shift towards directing his own projects. His directorial debut, the 2014 horror-comedy “Life After Beth,” starred John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, and his future wife, Aubrey Plaza. He went on to direct “Joshy” (2016), “The Little Hours” (2017), and “Horse Girl” (2020).
Baena and Plaza, whose career launched with “Parks and Recreation” in 2009 and has since blossomed with roles in films like “Emily the Criminal” and “The White Lotus,” were married in 2021 after nearly a decade together. Plaza publicly celebrated their union on Instagram and during an appearance on Drew Barrymore’s talk show, discussing the unique experience of being married to a fellow creative professional.
TMZ has reached out to Plaza’s representatives for comment.
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