Jeff Baena was a screenwriter and director known for such movies as “I Heart Huckabees” and “The Little Hours,” as well as the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza.
- Died: January 3, 2025 (Who else died on January 3?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles by suicide at the age of 47.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing warning signs of suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, calling 800-273-8255, texting HOME to 741741, or accessing the online chat service. Formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the network provides free, confidential support for people in crisis or emotional distress, 24/7 year-round. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for more information.
Jeff Baena’s legacy
Baena’s early experience in Hollywood included working as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis on the 2000 films “Cast Away” and “What Lies Beneath.” He co-wrote “I Heart Huckabees” with filmmaker David O. Russell. The dark comedy wasn’t extremely successful when initially released in 2004, but it has since gained cult classic status.
Baena’s directorial debut came in 2014 with the zombie comedy “Life After Beth.” It starred Plaza, his then-girlfriend, who was one of several actresses with whom Baena frequently collaborated. Another was Alison Brie, with whom he co-wrote “Horse Girl” and “Spin Me Round.” Brie also starred in both films. Another regular in his movies was Molly Shannon. In addition, Baena wrote and directed “Joshy” and “The Little Hours.”
Baena and Plaza had been dating since 2011, and they were married in 2021.
Notable quote
“The movies that always resonate with me, especially when I watch a comedy, are the ones where the laughs resonate on the inside as much as they do on the outside. You might not be guffawing, but you could be chuckling a lot. Those are the kinds of movies that I like the most. Those kinds of little moments that you don’t really notice or that have all these little touches that you could either notice or you could skip over, those are the gems for me.” — from a 2014 interview for That Shelf
Tributes to Jeff Baena
Full obituary: The New York Times
