Aubrey Plaza & Jeff Baena: Separation Before Tragedy

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena were navigating marital struggles before tragedy struck.

Back in 2021, I was overjoyed when my beloved couple tied the knot after a decade of being together. But fate had other plans for them; they parted ways mere months before the tragic suicide of the director of “Spin Me Round,” as reported by TMZ and confirmed by a Medical Examiner’s report. The authorities revealed that their separation occurred in September, when she relocated to New York. I still can’t believe it.

Although they were apart, police reports indicate that the estranged couple had a phone conversation the day before his demise, as reported by TMZ’s documents. Furthermore, Plaza, aged 40, informed authorities that she received a text message from Baena (his last communication) several hours prior to him being declared deceased, according to the same source.

In the report it was stated that the medical examiner mentioned the film director was discovered deceased by his dog walker. Upon hearing unusual music within the residence, the dog walker decided to enter the house, according to the news source.

On January 3rd, as reported by TopMob News after examining relevant documents, the film director was tragically discovered deceased in his Los Angeles residence. Seven days thereafter, Plaza made public remarks regarding his passing, along with his family – Barbara Stern (mother), Roger Stern (stepfather), Scott Baena (father), and Michele Baena (stepmother).

They expressed that this situation was beyond expectation, a heart-wrenching event. They’re profoundly thankful for the sympathy shown. At present, they kindly ask for their privacy to be respected.

Nearly a month after her low-key comeback, Plaza appeared once more in the limelight during the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live. It’s worth noting that she had previous experience with SNL as an intern and NBC Page. As she introduced Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard’s rendition of Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”, she donned a black blazer over a tie-dye shirt as a quiet homage to her late husband’s pandemic pastime.

In addition to others, Molly Shannon, Alison Brie, and Jake Johnson paid their respects online after Baena’s demise, expressing heartfelt tributes to the filmmaker in brief posts.

“I love you Jeff,” the New Girl alum wrote on Instagram. “Hate your last move. But still love you.”

For a closer look at Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena’s relationship, keep reading…

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena didn’t reveal many details about the early stages of their relationship, but they began dating in 2011 following a game of Balderdash where they first met.

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

Back in 2017, I shared my unbridled passion for films with Page Six. It’s this love that fuels our collaborative filmmaking endeavors.

They didn’t create their first film together, _Life After Beth_, until three years into their relationship, which was also Jeff’s initial attempt as a film director.

Although they usually preferred to keep their relationship private, Aubrey openly acknowledged that sharing the same professional field as her partner Jeff had certain advantages.

In her interview with People in June 2019, she expressed that when you’re with someone who shares your profession, they can grasp the challenges you face more intimately. Consequently, it becomes easier to offer mutual support and truly comprehend the paths we’re both treading.

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

The former Child’s Play cast member commented, “I believe this could be fantastic,” but added, “Keep in mind that collaborating with a partner can often be difficult. We each have our separate tasks and achieving a good balance is key to success.

Following a ten-year partnership, Aubrey announced that she and Jeff had exchanged wedding vows, along with a sneak peek at their upcoming film project, affectionately titled Spin Me Round, on social media.

I’m extremely proud of my dear husband @jeffbaena for coming up with another film that takes us to Italy and stirs up some more mischief. I can hardly wait to reunite with the fantastic @alisonbrie (who also co-wrote this one!) and @theofficialsuperstar @sordociego @lauren_weedman, along with many other delightful individuals in this production. Get ready!

Following numerous films together, Jeff emphasized that he’s more than just her husband or director – he’s her greatest supporter and admirer.

In the Reel Talker podcast of 2022, he stated she’s remarkably talented. He added if she wasn’t his spouse, he’d collaborate with her professionally. Fortunately, she is his wife. The chance to work on a creative project together, ensuring mutual satisfaction, is quite extraordinary, he said in 2022.

13 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“. Over the span of 14 years, they had previously produced “The Little Hours” and she featured in his 2016 film “Joshy“.

2025-03-20 00:47

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