Jeff Baena, a distinguished American filmmaker and screenwriter, was found dead at his Los Angeles residence on January 3, 2025, at the age of 47. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reported the cause of death as suicide by hanging.
Born on June 29, 1977, in Miami, Florida, Jeff Baena pursued film studies at New York University. Post-graduation, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he began his career as a production assistant for director Robert Zemeckis on films like "What Lies Beneath" and "Cast Away" (both 2000). He later served as an assistant editor for writer-director David O. Russell, contributing to projects such as "I Heart Huckabees" (2004).
Baena's directorial debut came with "Life After Beth" (2014), a zombie comedy featuring Aubrey Plaza, whom he began dating in 2011. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, marking the start of several collaborations between Baena and Plaza. He went on to direct "Joshy" (2016), "The Little Hours" (2017), "Horse Girl" (2020), and "Spin Me Round" (2022), the latter two co-written with actress Alison Brie.
In 2021, Baena and Plaza married in a private ceremony, celebrating a decade-long relationship. Their professional collaborations were notable, with Plaza starring in several of Baena's films, including "The Little Hours" and "Horse Girl."
