Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena had 'marital difficulties' and were separated 4 months before his death

While their relationship was often kept private, they shared their appreciation for each other in interviews.

MARCH 19, 2025 9:46 PM EDTMAR 19, 2025, 9:46 PM EDT

Aubrey Plaza was reportedly separated from her husband, Jeff Baena, at the time of his tragic death earlier this year. According to a Los Angeles medical examiner the couple was going through "marital difficulties" and had separated in September 2024.

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“According to the reported information, the decedent Jeffrey Baena is a 47-year-old Caucasian male,” the medical examiner wrote in the synopsis of an investigative summary report. “He was experiencing recent marital difficulties and was separated from his wife since September 2024," the report reads.

Baena’s death shocked the public in January, with reports revealing that the filmmaker died by suicide at his Los Angeles home. His body was discovered by a dog walker, as detailed in the medical examiner’s report.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy,” a spokesperson for the actress told Us Weekly at the time. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”

The couple first crossed paths in 2011 when Plaza was cast in Baena's film 'Life After Beth.' The pair developed a connection both personally and professionally after collaborating on multiple projects, including Baena’s 2014 film 'Joshy and The Little Hours' in 2017.

Director Jeff Baena and actress Aubrey Plaza discuss "The Little Hours"

While their relationship was often kept private, as they preferred to maintain a sense of privacy, the actress would go on to share glimpses of her relationship during interviews.

In 2021, their relationship reached a new milestone when they quietly tied the knot, making their bond official. “A lot of things happened during COVID for me. Yes, we got married. Big deal,” she said in December 2021 on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Director Jeff Baena and actress Aubrey Plaza attends the "Life After Beth" premiere

“We got a little bored one night. We got married and I’ll tell you how: Onehourmarriage.com. That’s real, look it up.” She added, “We were in the lockdown. Things got a little crazy, especially in my house. My husband got really into tie-dying and when I say tie-dying, I mean 50 shirts a day.”

Actress Aubrey Plaza (L) and writer/director Jeff Baena attend the screening of "Life After Beth"

The actress said she hoped to “do something” special for their 10th anniversary. “She’s awesome. I’d be working with her if she wasn’t my wife, but luckily she is my wife,” Baena praised his wife's acting and talked to Reel Talker in August 2022 that he appreciated working with her. “The opportunity to do something creative [together] where we’re both fulfilled — how rare is that?”