Aubrey Plaza Opens Up About Daily Struggle After Husband Jeff Baena’s Death

Aubrey Plaza, star of The White Lotus and Parks and Recreation, is speaking openly about life after the tragic loss of her husband, director Jeff Baena, who died by suicide earlier this year at the age of 47.

Plaza shared her feelings in a recent episode of her longtime friend and former Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang. Poehler asked her, “On behalf of all the people who feel like they know you, and the people who do know you, how are you feeling today?”

Plaza responded with honesty and vulnerability:
“Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you. Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I’m OK, but it’s like a daily struggle, obviously.”

Baena, who directed Plaza in films like Life After Beth and The Little Hours, passed away at his Los Angeles home. The couple had met in 2011 and married in 2021, maintaining a mostly private relationship. Three days after his death, Plaza shared a heartfelt Instagram tribute, calling it “an unimaginable tragedy” and asking for privacy during that time.

In the podcast, Plaza used the 2025 sci-fi action movie The Gorge as a metaphor for her grief:
“It’s like an alien movie with Miles Teller. There’s a cliff on one side and a cliff on the other side and there’s a gorge in between and it’s filled with all these monster people that are trying to get them. I swear when I watched it, I was like, ‘That’s what this feels like, what my grief is like — or what grief could be like.’ At all times there’s like a giant ocean of awfulness that’s like right there, and I can see it. And sometimes, I just want to dive into it and be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it. And then sometimes, I’m just trying to get away from it. But it’s always there. It’s just always there.”

Despite the heartache, Plaza also spoke about gratitude and small joys in her daily life. She mentioned her beloved dog, Frankie, who has been a comforting presence during this challenging time.

Jeff Baena was known in Hollywood for his dark comedies and innovative projects, including co-writing I Heart Huckabees and directing Spin Me Round. Plaza continues to honor his legacy through her work and interviews, sharing her journey with openness and honesty.

For anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide or coping with loss, Plaza’s story serves as a reminder to seek help. In the U.S., the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 988, and worldwide resources are available through organizations like Befrienders Worldwide.

Plaza’s candid reflections show that even in moments of immense grief, it’s possible to move forward, cherish small joys, and continue connecting with the world — a message that resonates far beyond Hollywood.

Image Credit: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons