The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner issued an autopsy report that actress Aubrey Plaza and director Jeff Baena had been apart for four months before Baena took his own life in January 2025.
Baena, a contributor to movies like “Life After Beth” and “Joshy,” died in his Los Angeles residence on January 3, 2025, aged 47. The couple’s breakup began in September of last year when Plaza relocated to New York, per the report.
Testimony within the report says Baena made “concerning comments” in October 2024 that prompted Plaza to request a welfare check. Following this accident, Baena began attending therapy sessions.
The couple’s last interaction occurred just hours before Baena was found by his dog walker. There was no suicide letter, drugs, or alcohol involved.
The Plaza-Baena couple came in 2011 and worked a little together in films such as Life After Beth and The Little Hours, wherein Plaza took the starring role. The two married in 2021 in a private ceremony.
The statement issued by Plaza after Baena’s passing thanked everyone for their supportive solidarity and requested privacy during this difficult time.
The entertainment world has paid homage to Baena’s death, and fellow artists and admirers of his performances have issued their condolence statements while paying homage to his legacy in independent movies.
This report of the couple’s breakup sheds new light on the public’s view of Baena’s recent months, highlighting the personal struggles that lie out of sight behind public personalities.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, services such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline are there to help.
