1 week ago
4
POPULAR filmmaker Jeff Baena has reportedly been found dead inside his Los Angeles home age 47.
Baena, who married Hollywood actress Aubrey Plaza in 2021, is best known for Indie movies such as Life After Beth, Joshy and The Little Hours.
5
5
5
Los Angeles police and fire department received a phone call from Baena's assistant on Friday at around 10:30am.
He was confirmed dead by cops as they arrived.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ they believe the director died by suicide.
Cops are yet to officially confirm his cause of death.
read more in celebrity deaths
Baena's family have been left "devastated" by the sudden news and have asked for privacy, say US outlet Deadline.
Baena and Plaza, best known for her roles in Parks and Recreation, White Lotus and Dirty Grandpa, tied the knot over three years ago after being together for a decade.
Budding director Baena was born and raised in Miami before he headed to New York to attend film school at university.
He then started his journey as a filmaker in Los Angeles where he became a writer.
In 2004 he co-wrote the hit film I Heart Huckabees and worked with Hollywood elites Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law and Naomi Watts.
A decade later, he found his big solo break with the 2014 zombie flick Life After Beth which starred his eventual wife Plaza as well as comedy star John C. Reilly.
The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize before its A24 release.
Plaza has publicly praised her then boyfriend for helping her cut through the film and TV industry.
She told People: "I think that when you’re with someone that is in your field, they understand what you’re dealing with on a deeper level.
"So obviously you are able to support each other and really understand kind of the journey that we’re both on."
Baena's career saw him be nominated for several awards for his writing and directorial skills.
He bagged himself a second Grand Jury Prize nomination in 2016 for Joshy.
His The Little Hours project from a year later was also put up for the Audience Award at the 2017 Edinburgh International Film Festival.
He also had a go at writing for TV with the Showtime series Cinema Toast which he created, wrote, directed and executive produced.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
5 5
More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
English (US) ·