According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner, independent director Jeff Baena, who co-wrote and directed I Heart Huckabees and Life After Beth, passed away on Friday.His age was 47.
Since 2021, Baena and actor Aubrey Plaza have been wed. The pair worked together on a number of movies, including Life After Beth (2014), which featured Plaza as the lead.
According to the medical examiner’s reports, he committed suicide at home.
According to Deadline, Baena relocated to Los Angeles to further his career after graduating from the film school at New York University. Before switching to the position of assistant editor, he was a production assistant. In this capacity, he collaborated with David O. Russell, Baena’s co-writer and director of the 2004 dark comedy I Heart Huckabees, which starred Mark Wahlberg, Dustin Hoffman, and Lily Tomlin.
In a 2016 interview with Fast Company, Baena discussed how his co-writing relationship with Russell began after an accident left him with eye damage, notably corneal damage.
The site claims that after Russell asked Baena his opinion on a proposal that a production company had presented to him, the discussion took off.
“He gave me the opportunity to support any ideas that went against his beliefs,” Baena told Fast Company. We shared similar interests, styles, and points of agreement. As a cowriter, he was truly a soul match.
In an interview with ISA Insider, Baena stated that he was drawn to irony in his writing and that comedies often have their own worlds.
Because, in my opinion, comedy can still be found in the most serious situations, and people typically utilize comedy to deal with difficult situations, Baena told the site.
A homage to Baena was put on X by the Sundance Film Festival, which expressed “our heartfelt thanks to Jeff Baena for sharing his stories and contributing to the lasting memories we’ve built together.”
“We will miss your humor, wit, and bold vision, Jeff. “Friend, may you rest in peace,” Sundance wrote.
On X, comedian and podcast host Marc Maron expressed his sadness for the untimely death of a genuine artist and kind man.
To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, text or call 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org, if you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis. For more assistance, go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
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