Review of Jeff Baena’s film career before his death at age 47

Jeff Brothers wrote and directed a number of indie TV shows and films before his sudden death in January 2025.

“(Directing is) all I want to do; it felt really comfortable and fun,” Baena told Seensome in 2014, referring to his directorial debut. Life after Beth. “I’ve been a writer for 12 years now and it was always a means to an end, I never wanted to be a writer, I wanted to be a director, so that was always my goal and it felt right.”

Life after Beth with a star Aubrey Plazawho started dating Baena four years ago. The couple, who married in 2020, later collaborated on films Three small hours AND Roll Me Round.

“It’s a wonderful experience to work with your partner in this way,” Plaza told MovieFreak in 2017. “I’ve worked with Jeff since his first film. I’ve seen it evolve and I’ve seen it grow. It’s a really special dynamic that we have. It’s challenging at times, but it’s also really rewarding to do something together.”

Baena echoed Plaza’s sentiments a few years later, telling Reel Talker in 2022 that “she’s awesome.”

“I would work with her if she wasn’t my wife, but luckily she is,” Baena said. “The opportunity to do something creative (together) where we’re both fulfilled — how rare is that?”

Baena died nearly three years later in January 2025, aged 47. Keep scrolling to review his star-studded filmography:

“I Heart Huckabees”

Baena wrote the 2004 film with David O. Russellwho also served as director. The movie played Jude Law, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Schwartzman, Naomi Watts, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin AND Isabelle Huppert.

“Life After Beth”

Life after Beth was the directorial debut of Baena, which he also wrote before its release in 2014. Apart from Plaza, the film was released Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Anna Kendrick AND Matthew Gray Gubler.

‘Joshy’

He wrote and directed Josh in 2016, working with actors Thomas Middleditch, Adam Pally, Nick Kroll, Jenny Slate, Brett Gelman, Lauren Graham AND Alison Brieexcept the Plaza.

“Jeff (came) into the group COMMUNITY in our sixth season and he asked me to play a small part in his film, josh,Brie recalled working with Baena during a 2022 interview with Collider. “There was no script for this. All his films I’ve been involved with, before this one, were completely improvised. So he came to my dressing room. We made an appointment and he came to meet me. … I knew a lot of the cast members in that movie. Nick Kroll, Jenny Slate and Adam Pally were my friends. I just thought, “Yeah, that sounds fun to do.” It was one day. I am in two scenes in that film. I thought the story was cool. And then, it just grew from there.”

Related: Aubrey Plaza’s husband, Jeff Baena, has died at the age of 47

UPDATE – January 4, 2024 at 7:01 PM EST: The medical examiner’s records were updated to reveal that Baena died by suicide at his Los Angeles, California residence on Friday, January 3. Original story: Aubrey Plaza’s husband, director Jeff Baena, has died at age 47, according to medical examiner records seen by Us Weekly. (…)

“The Small Hours”

The following year, Brie and Plaza reunited to play Nuns in 2017 Small hours. Brie’s husband, Dave Francoalso starred in the film as well Kate Micucci, Fred Armisen, Jemima Kirke AND Nick Offerman.

Brie told Collider in 2022 that Baena came into play Small hours on a phone call with him and Franco, who were both excited about the prospect of working on an entirely improvised film.

‘Girl With Horse’

Brie once again led the Baena’s The girl with the horsewhich debuted in 2020. The film also featured Shannon, Goldenite, Stella Chestnut, John Ortiz AND Debbie Ryan.

“Dave and I lived pretty close to Jeff and Aubrey. Jeff and I started hiking together pretty regularly, just as friends, and on these long walks, we’d talk about different ideas,” Brie told Collider two years later. “Eventually, I felt pretty good about him. to talk to him about my idea The girl with the horsewhich we wrote and co-produced together. It was such a good experience.”

‘Cinema Toast’

Baena created and wrote the eclectic 2021 TV show with episodes starring Brie, Christina Ricci, Chloe Fineman, Da’Vine Joy Randolph AND Jake Johnson.

“This project is right up my alley. I just loved just the concept of it,” Plaza told AwardsWatch in 2021. “It almost felt like a new art form for me, like, it’s beyond just dubbing a movie, it’s making a new movie out of old stuff , and I don’t I don’t know, there’s just something very film noir and nerdy about it. It spoke to my film school brain.”

“Twirl Me Around”

Brothers writes 2022 Roll Me Round with Brie, who also starred in the romantic comedy alongside Plaza. Other performers are included Jake Picking, Lil Rel Howery, Ego Nwodim, Alessandro Nivola AND Zach Woods.

“It’s a crazy benefit to have the person you’re collaborating with on all fronts also be on the other side of the camera,” Baena told The AV Club in August 2022 about working with the film’s leading lady, Brie. “Because in addition to understanding, obviously, where the script is coming from and what the intent is, they can also set the tone in terms of the acting.”