Aubrey Plaza and the bereaved family of her late spouse, Jeff Baena, have issued a statement in the wake of his passing. "We are confronting an inconceivable tragedy, and our hearts are deeply touched by the unwavering support extended to us from all quarters. As we navigate through this challenging period, we kindly request everyone to respect our privacy," the poignant message to PEOPLE reads.
Baena, an acclaimed writer and director, tragically took his own life on Friday, January 3rd, bringing a premature end to his illustrious 47-year journey. He left behind an impressive resume, boasting over a dozen directing and film credits. Notably, he embarked on his directorial journey by penning and helming "Life After Beth," a zombie comedy that starred Plaza, and subsequently created "Cinema Toast," an anthology series that premiered on Showtime in 2021, marking Plaza's own directorial debut.
Their love story began in 2011, when fate brought Plaza and Baena together. In May 2021, Plaza, then 40, subtly revealed their marital bliss by referring to Baena as her "darling husband" in an Instagram post, alerting their fans to the news of their union. This was later confirmed by a representative to PEOPLE.
Reflecting on their relationship in a 2019 interview with PEOPLE, Plaza mused, "One of the beauties of our careers is that they force us to embrace independence, take respites, pursue our individual passions, and then reconvene. It's sort of exhilarating. Life is never static. You don't want to be apart for too long, but I believe there's a rhythm, a balance, that makes it all work."
