REVEALED: Friends of Aubrey Plaza’s late husband, Jeff Baena, speak out after his sudden death with many confusing details they shared “I have seen …see more

Aubrey Plaza‘s late husband Jeff Baena is being remembered by his friends for his larger-than-life personality following his death by suicide at age 47.

In an emotional Vanity Fair essay, published on Wednesday, the filmmaker’s friend, Alex Ross Perry, reflected on their close friendship and his pal’s legendary game nights.

‘I asked a group chat to share photos of Jeff’s house—game nights, dinner hangs. I’ve looked at the 60 photos Chad Hartigan sent of various get-togethers over the past year,’ he shared. ‘They capture the essence of Jeff’s house, but nothing will replicate the spirit.’

Perry revealed that Baena’s frequent game night guest lists were typically a mix of ‘an actor or two you maybe recognized, a filmmaker you’re a fan of, and then some guy, or maybe a few some guys.’

At the get-togethers, Perry, 40, explained ‘no personality was larger than any other, except for Jeff’s.’

‘You’d sometimes get the feeling his wife, Aubrey Plaza, was content to be another guest at game night, even in her own home,’ he recalled. ‘It wasn’t her party. When the door opened and the players came through, Jeff and Aubrey’s home became Jeff’s house with Jeff’s rules.’

Perry went on to describe ‘game night Jeff’ as someone he knew ‘well’ while looking back on their evenings playing Codenames, Balderdash, Rummikub, and Scrabble.

‘He was undefeated—and undefeatable—at Scrabble. It was astonishing and maddening to play him, and I am incredible at Scrabble,’ Perry noted fondly.

Aubrey Plaza breaks her silence after husband Jeff Baena’s tragic death at 47

Perry went on to reveal that he lived with Baena for a month while filming 2016’s Joshy.

During that time, he said ‘every night was game night’ and ‘every day ended with the cast eating together and listening to music that Jeff, and only Jeff, curated.’

‘The “work” was an opportunity for him to sit at the head of the table and not get up for weeks. To host, to curate, to introduce, to nurture. These were Jeff’s objectives, whether at his home for a night or on a shoot for weeks,’ Perry said.

Following Baena’s tragic passing, Perry said he’s thought ‘a lot lately’ about knowing he will never ‘sit at Jeff’s table again for a game night.’

‘Honestly, I don’t know what meaning these recollections will turn out to have. I wanted to write this so that I can read it later and remember what Jeff’s house meant to me,’ he explained. ‘For somebody reading this who knows Jeff only as a filmmaker, his distinct social presence is essential to understanding him as a person.’

Perry explained that ‘Jeff built a house with a door that was always open, food and drinks for all, probably something to smoke, and plenty of friends or future friends waiting to greet you.’

In an emotional Vanity Fair essay, published on Wednesday, the filmmaker’s friend, Alex Ross Perry, reflected on their close friendship and Baena’s legendary game nights (seen on October 2, 2024)

View gallery

‘I lived too far away; I saw Jeff too infrequently. I’m not the person to write about Jeff’s house, I’m a person who is writing about Jeff’s house,’ Perry concluded. ‘I’d like to read 10 other recollections of other peoples’ experiences of being at his house—the one he lived in or the one he built to bring his creative family together.’

Days after Baena’s death, Perry shared a heartfelt tribute to Instagram praising his pal and his wife for always giving him ‘a place to stay’ in Los Angeles.

‘He fed me. He made amazing smoothies. Ordered delivery from places he knew I liked, but wouldn’t have time to go to. (Last time, he stocked the fridge with enough Jitlada to last my entire trip.) There will be no next time for an inexplicable and huge Magpies delivery waiting for me,’ he captioned a photo with Baena.

He continued: ‘Jeff Baena believed in me more than most people. It’s hard to think about the totality of support and enthusiasm you receive from a friend over a decade.’

‘Jeff brought me together with a lot of wonderful talented people, because that is what he loved doing. I hope my connections to them endure, and that we always talk about him. We are all better for having known Jeff,’ he stated.

View gallery

At the get-togethers, Perry, 40, explained: ‘no personality was larger than any other, except for Jeff’s’

View gallery

Perry went on to describe ‘game night Jeff’ as someone he knew ‘well’ as he looked back on their evenings playing Codenames, Balderdash, Rummikub, and Scrabble

Earlier this month, Plaza broke her silence about Baena’s death in a short statement obtained by DailyMail.

‘This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time,’ a rep for the actress, 40, said.

Plaza – who began dating Baena in 2011 and wed him in 2021 – had collaborated with her late spouse on movies such as 2014’s Life After Beth, 2017’s The Little Hours and 2022’s Spin Me Round.

Plaza has been flooded with condolences following her spouse’s passing, as colleagues such as Julia Fox and Selma Blair have been among the people to offer the actress-producer, 40, comforting words in the wake of the family tragedy.

Baena was found dead on Friday, January 3, 2025 at his Los Angeles home.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office eventually ruled his passing a suicide by hanging.

Earlier this month, Plaza broke her silence about Baena’s death in a short statement obtained by DailyMail; seen in 2014

‘No words can touch this painful time,’ Blair, 52, said in an Instagram comment thread adjacent to Plaza’s most recent post December 24.

Fox, 34, wrote in the thread, ‘Sending you so much love’ with an emoji of a dove.

Actress Alison Brie, 42, shared a series of images of Baena on her Instagram Stories, adding an emoji of a broken heart.

She also reposted a statement from actor-comedian Adam Pally, 42, a friend and collaborator of Baena’s who lauded him on a personal and professional level.

‘He was a collaborator, a mentor, the scrappiest basketball player with the ugliest jump shot you ever saw,’ said Pally. ‘He was a talented director with impeccable taste and vision, he was a connector of people, a fosterer of possibility, the guy who knows where the best restaurant was no matter where you were.

‘An overly gracious host with an almost disturbing open door policy, a film encyclopedia, and most importantly to me a friend.’

Pally wrapped up in saying, ‘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 or in his orbit. Thanks for believing in me Jeff, may your memory be a blessing.’

On Plaza’s Instagram, actress-producer Barbara Crampton, 66, wrote to Plaza, ‘So sorry. I hope the love of others can hold you up.’

Actor-model Rain Dove, 35, wrote, ‘Aubrey we love You so much and it’s absolutely devastating to hear the news about Your beloved.

‘We truly wish You lots of protection in this time. Take all the space You need to process this. Don’t succumb to and pressure to return to work any sooner than feels right.’

Plaza, who played April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation from 2009–2015, has seen her career skyrocket in recent years since her Emmy-nominated turn on The White Lotus in 2023.

She has a number of upcoming projects in various phases; it was not immediately clear how the family tragedy would impact her forthcoming professional endeavors moving forward.

Baena is survived by Plaza; his mother, Barbara Stern, stepfather Roger Stern, father Scott Baena, stepmother Michele Baena, brother Brad Baena and stepsiblings Bianca Gabay and Jed Fluxman, his rep told the AP.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.