Brother of Aubrey Plaza’s husband Jeff Baena speaks out after his tragic death: ‘Broken’

The brother of actress Aubrey Plaza’s husband, Jeff Baena, has spoken out after the director’s tragic death.

The brother of Aubrey Plaza’s husband, Jeff Baena, has spoken out after the director’s tragic death.

The filmmaker took his own life days ago at the LA home he shared with The White Lotus actress, 40.

As tributes flowed for Jeff, his brother, Brad Baena, was among the many to express their devastation after the director was found dead aged 47.

Commenting under an Instagram post shared by Jeff’s friend and actor Adam Pally, Brad’s pain could be felt.

“I am broken,” Brad commented on the post.

Actress Aubrey Plaza and director Jeff Baena were married for four years before his sudden death on January 3. Picture: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Adam’s original post is just as heartbreaking.

“An overly gracious host with an almost disturbing open-door policy, a film encyclopedia, and most importantly to me a friend,” wrote Adam, who currently voices Wade in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie.

“As a director Jeff strove for truth. Nothing could sound, look or feel inauthentic, and that is a direct representation of who Jeff was. Authentic. You never worried that Jeff wasn’t telling you the way it is. Cause Jeff’s virtue was telling you the way it was.

“My heart breaks for my friend Aubrey and the Baena family and for all of us who spent time on his sets or at his house or in his orbit. Thanks for believing in me Jeff, may your memory be a blessing.”

Jeff Baena (centre) directed The Little Hours which starred (from left to right) Adam Pally, Molly Shannon, Aubrey Plaza and Kate Micucci. Picture: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images

Jeff’s body was discovered by an assistant at his Los Feliz property on Friday morning local time. Emergency services were called to the home around 10:30am, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, with the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirming he died by suicide.

Jeff was best known for directing the 2014 horror comedy Life After Beth, which was his directorial debut and starred his wife.

They worked together again in the 2022 rom-com Spin Me Round and on comedy The Little Hours in 2017.

Aubrey shot to fame in 2009 thanks to her starring role in the hit sitcom Parks and Recreation, and in 2011 she stated dating Jeff, who became her biggest supporter.

Baena was found dead on January 3 at the LA home he shared with the actress. Picture: Mark Davis/Getty Images

“As I’ve made more and more stuff, I’ve come to appreciate everything that she brings,” Jeff told Newsweek in 2022.

“She’s insanely talented and so smart and obviously really good at producing. And she’s writing. There are very few people who can wear as many hats as her, as elegantly as she does.”

Elsewhere in that interview, he gushed about his wife, saying “everything she does is amazing” and that “generally people point her out in whatever project she’s in as being the best part.”

“She’s, like, insanely talented and I’m very lucky to have her in my life,” he said.

Originally published as Brother of Aubrey Plaza’s husband Jeff Baena speaks out after his tragic death: ‘Broken’