Actress Aubrey Plaza has released her first statement following the death of her husband, director Jeff Baena, who died by suicide at age 47 on January 3rd.
"This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support," Plaza and the Baena family said in a joint statement. "Please respect our privacy during this time."
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Baena was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles-area home on Friday morning. Police arrived at approximately 10:30 AM and pronounced him dead at the scene.
The couple had been together for over a decade before quietly marrying in 2021. Plaza revealed their marriage that May by referring to Baena as her "darling husband" in an Instagram post. During a later appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Plaza shared that they wed "on a whim" during quarantine, wearing tie-dye pajamas Baena had made.
Baena was known for co-writing "I Heart Huckabees" (2004) and directing several films including "Life After Beth" and "Horse Girl." He and Plaza collaborated on multiple projects throughout their relationship, including the Showtime anthology series "Cinema Toast" in 2021, which marked Plaza's directorial debut.
The news of Baena's passing was acknowledged at the Golden Globe Awards on January 5th, when director Brady Corbet dedicated part of his acceptance speech to Plaza and Baena's family.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.