Jeffrey Lance Baena

1977 - 2025

Jeffrey Lance Baena

June 29, 1977 - January 3, 2025

Los Angeles, California - Jeffrey Lance Baena (June 29, 1977 - January 3, 2025). It is with profound sadness and grief that we announce the sudden and unexpected death of Jeff Baena, a beloved son, husband, brother, uncle and friend to many. Jeff left us too soon but despite his woefully too-short life, he left us with treasured memories of a gifted filmmaker, as well as a very special person on so many different levels.

Jeff was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He attended Killian High School in Kendall, Florida. He graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 1999. Upon graduation, Jeff relocated to Los Angeles to pursue writing and directing movies. He began as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis. He then became an assistant editor for writer-director David O. Russell, with whom he collaborated on I Heart Huckabees, and uncredited revisions to Meet the Fockers. Beginning in 2004, Jeff routinely received credit for writing and directing the films with which he was associated; however, on occasion he collaborated with others.

Jeff fell in love with film at 11 years old watching A Clockwork Orange and Felini's 8 1/2, elements of which influenced his own movies decades later. His body of work is testimony to his keen intellect. Each of his films reflects a carefully crafted balance of the logical and the implausible. His juxtaposition of intellect and creativity challenged us. He embraced independent film making because of his unalterable distaste for institutional guardrails on creativity. Those who worked with him praise his vision, taste, technical competence, and ability to coalesce actors into an ensemble that performs in perfect harmony. A family atmosphere always ensued. He loved nature and highlighted it cinema-graphically in his films whenever and wherever possible.

Jeff's body of work includes: I Heart Huckabees which was nominated for the 2004 Gotham Award for Best Feature; Life After Beth which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize; Joshy which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize; The Little Hours which was nominated for the Audience Award at the 2017 Edinburgh International Film Festival; Horse Girl which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival; and, Spin Me Round which premiered at the 2022 South by Southwest Film Festival. Jeff's wife, Aubrey Plaza, starred in most of his movies.

On television, Jeff created, wrote, directed and executive produced the Showtime series, Cinema Toast, to fill the void left by the suspension of moviemaking during the COVID lockdown.

As much as anything else, Jeff loved the company of his friends, some from as far back as elementary school, and he most often was the organizer of game nights, poker nights, pool parties, basketball games and get-togethers. Jeff was a true relationship builder with a gift for bringing people together on and off the movie set. His magic sauce was ensuring everyone was having fun and no one ever left his get-togethers as a stranger.

When he was a boy, Jeff loved reading The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Ironically, in it, the Little Prince exclaims, "I haven't much time. I have friends to find and so many things to learn." And so it was for Jeff.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Aubrey Plaza; parents, Barbara Stern (Roger) and Scott Baena (Michele); brother, Brad (Ivette); step-sister Bianca Gabay (Maurice); step-brother Jed Fluxman(Nicole); nephews Jake Baena and Leo Fluxman; nieces Brielle Baena, Ava and Olivia Gabay. Jeff joins his beloved Stevie.

We shall always love and deeply miss Jeff. His presence, as well as his work, made the world feel better. He had lots more to offer. Alas, all that is gone. Sweet dreams, our Little Prince.