Aubrey Plaza has released a heartfelt statement following the tragic death of her husband, Jeff Baena, who passed away by suicide on Friday at his Los Angeles home. “This is an unimaginable tragedy,” Plaza and the Baena/Stern family said in a joint statement, asking for privacy during this difficult time.

Baena, a talented indie film director and writer, was 47. Known for his work on films like I Heart Huckabees (2004), which he co-wrote with David O. Russell, and his directorial debut Life After Beth (2014) starring Plaza, Baena built a distinguished career in independent cinema. His other notable works include The Little Hours (2017), Joshy (2016), and Spin Me Round (2022).

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena at Sundance in 2017.

The couple married in 2020 after a decade together. Plaza, who was scheduled to present at Sunday’s Golden Globes, canceled her appearance to grieve alongside family, which includes Baena’s parents, siblings, and stepfamily.

Born in Miami in 1977, Baena graduated from NYU Film School and launched his career in Los Angeles, working with filmmakers like Robert Zemeckis and David O. Russell before moving into writing and directing. His impact on independent film and television, including the Showtime series Cinema Toast (2021), leaves a lasting legacy.