Inside Aubrey Plaza’s Love Story With Late Husband Jeff Baena

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena frequently worked together, both on screen and behind the scenes in their personal lives.

However, it was reported by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner that the actress’s filmmaker spouse took his own life on January 3, at the age of 47.

According to a statement from Plaza and Baena’s family, as reported by TopMob News on January 6, “This is an overwhelming, unbearable sorrow.” They expressed their heartfelt gratitude towards everyone who has extended their support. At this difficult moment, they kindly ask for privacy.

As a devoted follower, I’d express it like this: From the beginning, their relationship has been largely private. The specifics about when and how we first crossed paths remain unclear, though I heard through a 2022 GQ profile that it was over a game of Balderdash. However, what’s certain is that our romance blossomed in the year 2011.

Three years after, Baena stepped into directorial roles for the first time with “Life After Beth“, a film that featured Plaza who, by then, was acting as April Ludgate in the sitcom “Parks and Recreation“. Subsequently, he wrote and directed the movies “Joshy” (2016) and “The Little Hours“, both of which included Plaza’s acting presence.

In a 2017 interview with SIFFcast, Plaza shared her experience of collaborating with Jeff on all his films. “I adore his movies, appreciate his creative process, and was captivated by the narrative,” she said about The Little Hours. “Being a nun seemed intriguing to me – I thought it would be an entertaining role to play.

On the television front, they collaborated on a production titled “Cinema Toast” – a program conceived by Baena and helmed by Plaza during the COVID-19 pandemic, which debuted in 2021.

Originally, our home transformed into an unusual production studio, and he was either engaged in Zoom calls or recording sessions downstairs while I edited up here. We frequently exchanged work, back and forth. This was quite typical of us. As the White Lotus alum shared with People, we weren’t making sourdough bread, but rather delving into hours of old films and footage, re-editing them, and allowing our minds to wander on a journey. It was an enjoyable experience for us. So, in essence, we were on a creative adventure together.

2021 marked the year when Baena and Plaza, who had previously kept their relationship private, chose to step into new roles as a married couple. While they occasionally appeared together at film festivals or shared occasional tributes on special days like Valentine’s Day or birthdays, their followers were taken aback when Plaza publicly declared her pride for her husband in an Instagram post from May 2021, praising him for writing, directing, and acting in the movie “Spin Me Round.

On the December 2021 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Plaza confirmed, “Indeed, we tied the knot,” she added casually, “no biggie.

To the fans, it was indeed a significant event and they were eager to learn all the particulars.

The 40-year-old explained, “One evening we found ourselves bored, so we decided to get married. Here’s how: 1HourMarriage.com. Yes, it’s legitimate – check it out.”

As Plaza reminisced, the wedding took place on the same day she and Baena celebrated their tenth anniversary together.

“I suggested, ‘Hey, it’s our 10-year anniversary. We should do something special like getting an ice cream cone.’ I jokingly added, ‘Let’s get married.’ He replied, ‘We probably can’t get married that quickly.’ To which I responded, ‘Well, wouldn’t it be nice to get married on our actual anniversary?’ Then I searched for 1HourMarriage.com. I called around 5 p.m. and asked if they could come an hour later and marry us in our yard.”

She added, “My husband-to-be went to pick up food from a restaurant because we had already ordered it. He almost missed the wedding as he had to wait a long time for the order.”

“I told Ellen DeGeneres,” Plaza said, “that my now-husband picked up the food, nearly missing the wedding because of the delay in getting the order ready.

Concerning Plaza, she consulted her neighbor, whom she described as a witch named Dandelion, for advice about her upcoming wedding. She confided in Dandelion, “If you could do a spell or give me some guidance on whether this is a good idea, I’d really appreciate it.” Dandelion replied with a promise of assistance and returned with a rosemary wreath that she presented to Plaza, who said she even heard a cackle.

With the wreath in hand, Plaza prepared the ceremony space by creating a makeshift love altar in her yard using tokens symbolizing their love. However, the details of the ceremony are hazy due to its fuzzy nature, but Plaza believes it was legally binding.

Instead of wearing traditional wedding attire, Plaza and her partner opted for tie-dye pajamas that he had made himself. This revelation was shared by Plaza on an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2021.

In their new role as husband and wife, Plaza and Baena found themselves balancing both professional and personal relationships.

She confided to Drew Barrymore that their joint ventures in films and television were “wonderful yet complex”. They experienced intense highs but also faced considerable challenges. Navigating this dynamic was tough, she admitted, but after being together for 11 years, they persevered through it all.

In a November 2022 interview with GQ, when asked about her connection to her White Lotus character Harper, Plaza responded, “I’ve been married for twelve years, and I can relate to being in a relationship with its highs and lows, enduring tough times, and sometimes comparing ourselves to seemingly perfect couples.”

However, the challenges she faced in both work and life made her reflect on what truly matters.

During a 2020 episode of HFPA In Conversation, she stated that her partner is also a filmmaker, and they’ve collaborated on movies together. They’ve had their fair share of good and bad experiences. Through these trials, Plaza learned that ultimately, films are temporary. What truly matters are the people in our lives and the relationships we build. She believes that when faced with death, most people think about their loved ones, not their accomplishments on screen.

In an August 2022 interview with Reel Talker, the writer of “I Heart Huckabees” shared his appreciation for Plaza being his costar in life, stating, “She’s fantastic! If she weren’t my wife, I would still be eager to work with her. Fortunately, she is my wife. We had been together for three years prior to creating “Life After Beth” together. Having that kind of rapport and connection is truly remarkable.

He said, “It’s quite unusual to find chances for us to collaborate and produce something creative that satisfies us both. She’s open and incredibly gifted, so I feel truly fortunate.

To see photos from their relationship over the years, keep reading.

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena haven’t disclosed many details about the early stages of their relationship, but it was in 2011 when they began dating following a chance encounter during a round of Balderdash.

But one thing the Parks & Recreation star divulged is that from the start, they bonded over movies.

In 2017, she shared with Page Six that her passion for films is immense. That’s why they’ve been collaborating on movie projects.

Three years into their partnership, they finally collaborated on their initial film project, titled “Life After Beth”, which served as Jeff’s debut as a director.

Although they usually preferred to keep their romantic life private, Aubrey openly acknowledged that sharing an entertainment career with someone like Jeff had its advantages.

In her interview with People in June 2019, she expressed that when one is with someone who shares the same profession, they can empathize more deeply because they grasp the challenges faced in the field. As a result, it becomes easier to provide mutual support and understand the shared journey both are embarking on.

But that’s not to say it doesn’t take its own work.

The former Child’s Play actor commented, “I believe it could be fantastic,” adding, “However, collaboration with a partner can sometimes be tricky. There are many aspects we handle individually, and achieving balance is key.

After a full ten years as a couple, Aubrey announced that she and Jeff had officially gotten married. She gave him a special mention on social media and hinted at their upcoming fourth film project, titled “Spin Me Round.

I’m beaming with pride for my dear husband, @jeffbaena, as he devises another film set in Italy, promising more mischief! I can hardly wait to join forces again with the fantastic @alisonbrie (also a co-writer on this project!) and other stars such as @theofficialsuperstar, @sordociego, @lauren_weedman, and many more delightful individuals. Get ready, everyone! Preparations are underway!

Following multiple film projects alongside his wife, Jeff emphasized that he’s more than just her spouse or director; he’s her foremost supporter.

In the Reel Talker podcast of 2022, he expressed that she’s extraordinary. He added, “If she weren’t my wife, I would be eager to collaborate with her. However, I’m fortunate because she is indeed my wife.” He further stated, “The chance to engage in a creative venture where we both find satisfaction – how uncommon is that?

14 years prior to Jeff’s unexpected passing at the age of 47, he and Aubrey collaborated on their fourth and last movie together titled “Spin Me Round.” Throughout their 14-year partnership, they also produced “The Little Hours” and Aubrey starred in Jeff’s 2016 film “Joshy.“.

2025-01-11 16:17

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