Aubrey Plaza calls husband's death 'unimaginable tragedy'

American actress Aubrey Plaza and her husband, Jeff Baena's family, have described his death as an "unimaginable tragedy." Baena, a director and screenwriter, passed away last Friday at the age of 47. The cause of death, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, was suicide.

The director and screenwriter was found at a residence near the Fern Dell Nature Trail in the Hollywood Hills. A statement submitted to the UK Press Association stated, "This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are very grateful to all those who have offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time." The statement was attributed to Plaza and the Baena/Stern family.

Baena is survived by his mother, Barbara Stern, and stepfather, Roger Stern; his father, Scott, and stepmother, Michele Baena; his brother, Brad Baena; stepsister, Bianca Gabay, and stepbrother, Jed Fluxman. Baena's most notable works include the films "Life After Beth," "Joshy," and "The Little Hours." He married Plaza in 2021.

Baena graduated from New York University with a degree in film before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in directing. He worked in production under directors Robert Zemeckis and David O Russell (with whom he co-wrote "I Heart Huckabees") before embarking on his own film projects. Baena made his directorial debut in 2014 with the zombie comedy film "Life After Beth," which also featured Plaza. The two collaborated on multiple projects afterwards.

Plaza is best known for her roles in the hit American television series "The White Lotus" and "Parks and Recreation." Earlier this week, she was announced as a presenter at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards ceremony but understandably did not attend following her husband's death. Brady Corbet, director of the film "The Beast," expressed his condolences in his acceptance speech after winning the Best Director for a Drama award: "My heart goes out to Aubrey Plaza and Jeff's family."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, details of organizations that can offer support can be found via the BBC Action Line. In the UK, you can call 0800 066 066 for recorded information at any time, free of charge. Elsewhere in the world, you can find help here.