Aubrey Plaza says husband’s death was an ‘unimaginable tragedy’

Actor Aubrey Plaza broke her silence Monday on the recent death of her husband, Jeff Baena, saying it was an “unimaginable tragedy” and asking for privacy.

Baena, an independent filmmaker, died Friday at his Los Feliz residence, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, which determined the cause of death to be suicide. He was 47.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,” Plaza and Baena’s extended family said in a statement shared with The Times. “Please respect our privacy during this time.”

Baena’s death prompted Plaza to step aside from her duties presenting the 82nd Golden Globes in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.

Director Brady Corbet acknowledged Baena’s death while accepting the best picture award for his movie “The Brutalist” at Sunday night’s event.

“Finally, tonight my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family,” Corbet said at the end of his acceptance speech. “Goodnight.”

Baena and Plaza began dating in 2001, were married in May 2021 and collaborated on several film and television projects.

Baena made his directorial debut in 2014 with his zombie comedy film “Life After Beth,” starring Plaza as the titular character. Plaza also starred in his 2017 dark comedy film, “The Little Hours,” and in the most recent film he directed, “Spin Me Round,” in 2022.

The pair also teamed up on the 2021 television anthology series Cinema Toast, which took public domain film and television footage and transformed it into new stories through imaginative editing and voiceovers. Baena created the show and directed several episodes, and Plaza directed one of the episodes.

Plaza told People Magazine in 2019 that although it came with challenges, she enjoyed the synergy of working with her husband on projects.

“I think that when you’re with someone that is in your field, they understand what you’re dealing with on a deeper level,” she said. “So obviously you are able to support each other and really understand kind of the journey that we’re both on.”

Baena’s films were twice nominated for the grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival — first “Life After Beth” and then “Joshy,” a 2016 dark comedy about a man’s bachelor party that takes place after his fiancée dies by suicide.

Plaza, 40, rose to fame with her role as April Ludgate on the sitcom “Parks and Recreation” from 2009 to 2015. She was nominated for an Emmy in 2023 for her performance on the second season of “The White Lotus.”

Baena is survived by his mother, Barbara Stern; father Scott Baena; stepfather Roger Stern; stepmother Michele Baena; brother Brad Baena; stepsister Bianca Gabay; and stepbrother Jed Fluxman.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a professional and call 9-8-8. The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline 988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors. Text “HOME” to 741741 in the U.S. and Canada to reach the Crisis Text Line.