Aubrey Plaza Opens Up About “Daily Struggle” Following Husband Jeff Baena‘s Death

Aubrey Plaza has revealed she experiences a “daily struggle” with grief following the death of her estranged husband, Jeff Baena. Baena, a film-maker, died in January 2024 at the age of 47 by suicide, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner.

The Death of Jeff Baena

Jeff Baena was found dead at a home near the Fern Dell Nature Trail in the Hollywood Hills.The cause of death was determined to be hanging, and the Los Angeles County medical examiner ruled it a suicide.

The couple had separated in September 2024, according to reports from the Los Angeles County coroner investigator.They had been together since around 2011 and married a decade later.

Baena was a writer, director, and screenwriter known for his work on films like Horse Girl (2020), Spin Me Round (2022), and I heart Huckabees (2004). He also created the anthology comedy series Cinema Toast.

Plaza’s Description of Grief

Plaza shared her experiences with grief during an appearance on her Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler‘s podcast, Good Hang. She described her grief as a constant presence, comparing it to a scene from the 2025 film The Gorge.

“This is a really dumb analogy and it was kind of a joke at a certain point, but I actually mean it. Did you see that movie The Gorge? …In the movie, there’s a cliff on one side and there’s a cliff on the othre side, then there’s a gorge in between and it’s filled with all these monster people that are trying to get them.

“I swear,when I watched it,I was like ‘that feels like what my grief is like’ … or what grief could be like.

“At all times, there’s like a giant ocean of awfulness that’s right there and I can see it. Sometimes I just want to dive into it, and just like be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it’s always there.”

Despite the ongoing struggle, Plaza expressed gratitude for being able to function and move through the world. She stated, “Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you. I’m here and I’m functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I’m okay, but it’s like a daily struggle, obviously.”

Plaza and Baena’s Collaborative work

Plaza and Baena collaborated on several projects throughout their relationship. They worked together on the 2014 horror film Life After Beth and the 2017 historical comedy The Little Hours. Baena directed an episode of Cinema Toast featuring Plaza, and another starring Alison Brie.

Plaza is widely recognized for her role as April Ludgate in the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation, alongside Amy Poehler. She has also appeared in The White Lotus, Agatha All Along, and films such as Megalopolis, My old Ass, Ingrid Goes West, Dirty Grandpa, and Emily The Criminal.

Editor’s Analysis

Timeline of Events

Frequently Asked Questions

• what did Jeff Baena do? Jeff Baena was a film-maker, writer, and director known for films like Horse Girl and Spin Me Round.
• How did Jeff Baena die? Jeff Baena died by suicide in January 2024.
• What has Aubrey Plaza said about her grief? Plaza has described her grief as a “daily struggle” and compared it to a dangerous and overwhelming “gorge.”
• Where can I find more information? you can find more information about Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena on the Irish Times and other news outlets.