Jeff Baena Dead at 47: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Aubrey Plaza’s Husband

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Aubrey Plaza has been winning over hearts with her unique blend of dark humor and offbeat charm in Emily the Criminal and The White Lotus. But behind her success, there’s been one constant support: her husband, the quirky filmmaker Jeff Baena.

Known for his oddball indie gems like Life After Beth and The Little Hours, Baena was the kind of director who didn’t just break the mold; he made a whole new one.

Tragically, on January 4, 2025, the world was stunned to learn of Baena’s passing at just 47. Plaza, ever the private star, had a rock beside her in Baena, who was not only her biggest fan but also a fellow creative force. Though his life was cut short, Baena’s impact on indie cinema, and of course, Plaza’s career remains undeniable.

But beyond the cameras and critical acclaim, what else did we not know about Aubrey Plaza’s husband? From his unexpected entry into the film world to his partnership with Plaza, Baena had a life full of quirky details. Let’s take a closer look at five things you didn’t know about the man behind the scenes, whose legacy continues to influence both Hollywood and the heart of Aubrey Plaza.

1 Jeff Baena was a writer and director

Jeff Baena wasn’t just the guy behind the camera, he was the quirky genius shaping offbeat, indie cinema with his distinctive touch. A writer and director with more than a dozen credits, Baena made his mark early with the 2004 cult classic I Heart Huckabees, which still makes us question the meaning of life (or at least make us laugh about it). But that was just the beginning. In 2014, he stepped behind the director’s chair for Life After Beth, a zombie comedy starring his wife, Aubrey Plaza.

His creative journey was driven by passion, not just ambition. He once admitted in an interview with Seensome that being a writer was never his dream, it was all about directing. He said,

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.

And, from the looks of it, he nailed it. In recent years, Baena flexed his creative muscles with Cinema Toast, an anthology series, and Spin Me Round, a wild comedy starring Plaza and Alison Brie. Sadly, his life was cut short but Baena’s legacy, full of absurdly fun films and bold, offbeat storytelling, will live on in the indelible characters and stories he gave us.

2 Jeff Baena’s career took shape thanks to a minor car accident

Want to know a fun little twist in Jeff Baena’s career story? It all started with a car accident. Yep, while working as an assistant to director David O. Russell, Baena got into a minor fender bender. No major injuries, but a bit of debris got into his eye. While recovering, Russell took care of him, and, naturally, the two started chatting.

From those conversations, a creative spark was lit, and before long, they were writing scripts together. One of those scripts turned into I Heart Huckabees, a movie that left us all questioning life’s bigger questions, thanks to Baena’s quirky touch. In the same Seensome interview, Baena admitted Russell had a huge impact on his career, which is no surprise considering how their serendipitous conversation led to such an epic leap from assistant to screenwriter.

3 Jeff Baena and Aubrey Plaza’s several collaborations

Jeff Baena and Aubrey Plaza weren’t just life partners, they were a powerhouse team on screen, too. The pair started dating in 2011, keeping their romance refreshingly low-key. So low-key, in fact, that no one even knew they got married until Plaza casually dropped “darling husband” into an Instagram caption in 2021. Yes, that happened.

But their collaboration went beyond a couple of goals, they were creative co-conspirators. Baena directed Plaza in Life After Beth, Joshy, The Little Hours, and Spin Me Round, proving their working dynamic was as quirky as their personalities. Plaza once gushed about their partnership in an interview with MovieFreak.com admitting,

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.

The ultimate showcase of their creative synergy came during the pandemic when the duo created Cinema Toast, an anthology series that had them transforming old movie footage into bizarre new stories. While everyone else was perfecting their sourdough starters, these two were holed up in their home-turned-production studio, bouncing ideas off each other over Zooms and edits.

4 Italy has Jeff Baena’s heart

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena at a Film Festival

If there’s one place Jeff Baena could happily get lost in, it’s Italy. The country isn’t just a dreamy backdrop for his films, it’s a muse that seems to have his whole heart. Baena first fell for Italy while shooting The Little Hours in 2016, a hilarious medieval romp starring none other than Aubrey Plaza. In an interview with Deadline, Baena gushed about the experience, adding,

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.

And he didn’t just keep his Italian adventures to himself, he brought Plaza along, blending work and wanderlust into the perfect mix. Fun fact? Her subtle 2021 wedding announcement even referenced a work trip to Italy.

5 Jeff Baena studied film at New York University

Jeff Baena’s love affair with film started early, growing up in the culturally rich vibes of Miami. By the time he hit college, he was already laser-focused on making movies, so naturally, he packed his bags for New York University’s prestigious film school. After graduating, Baena didn’t waste time dreaming, he made the move to Los Angeles, ready to hustle his way into Hollywood.

Armed with ambition and probably a killer VHS collection, Baena started as an assistant, working for none other than cinematic heavyweights Robert Zemeckis and David O. Russell. These gigs weren’t just a foot in the door; they were a masterclass in filmmaking. Before long, Baena leaped and started carving his path, proving that from Miami to NYU to L.A., he was always destined for the director’s chair.

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