Molly Shannon Pays Tribute To Aubrey Plaza’s Late Partner Jeff Baena

Information of Jeff Baena’s passing was first reported on Saturday, revealing that the filmmaker had tragically died by suicide on the age of 47. Legislation enforcement sources confirmed that police and hearth officers responded to a loss of life investigation name at round 10:30 AM on Friday after an assistant found Baena unresponsive. He was pronounced useless on the scene.

Now, simply two days after the acclaimed director was tragically discovered deceased in his Los Angeles house, Molly Shannon is breaking her silence.

Shannon and Baena’s artistic partnership flourished by way of their work collectively on a number of notable movies, together with “The Little Hours” and “Life After Beth.” Each initiatives additionally featured Baena’s spouse, actress Aubrey Plaza. Shannon additionally appeared in Baena’s 2020 movie “Horse Woman,” additional solidifying their skilled connection.

The actress took to social media on Saturday, posting a collection of heartfelt images that includes moments shared with Baena. Her caption was marked just by a damaged coronary heart emoji, a strong image of her grief and the profound loss felt by those that knew him.

Baena, broadly revered for his distinctive storytelling type and skill to convey deeply human narratives to life, leaves behind a legacy of impactful movies and collaborations cherished by followers and colleagues alike.

Jeff Baena made his directorial debut in 2014 with the horror-comedy “Life After Beth,” a movie that featured an ensemble solid together with John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, and Aubrey Plaza herself. The film not solely marked the beginning of Baena’s directorial profession but additionally the start of a artistic and deeply private partnership with Plaza.

Following “Life After Beth,” Baena continued to construct his status as an revolutionary storyteller with movies resembling “Joshy,” “The Little Hours,” and “Horse Woman.” Every undertaking showcased his distinctive mix of humor, darkness, and emotional depth, additional cementing his legacy as a genre-blending filmmaker.

In a earlier dialog with Individuals, Plaza mirrored on the distinctive expertise of working alongside Baena in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was very hectic whereas we have been making the present as a result of we have been quarantined and Jeff, he created the present; it was his thought,” she mentioned. “Our home grew to become this unusual post-production facility and he is downstairs on his Zooms or on his classes and I am upstairs enhancing, [and] we’re simply going backwards and forwards.”

She added, “We have been quarantined for months and months like all people else. And we did take pleasure in it. I feel it was, clearly apart from all the catastrophic issues occurring on the earth, simply on a private degree, relationship degree, form of good to only be pressured to be in a single place for that lengthy. May have gone both manner, I suppose.”

Plaza additionally highlighted some great benefits of sharing a artistic business along with her husband, explaining, “I feel that if you’re with somebody that’s in your area, they perceive what you are coping with on a deeper degree. So clearly you’ll be able to assist one another and actually perceive form of the journey that we’re each on.”

Following the information, many celebrities and followers took to X, the social media platform previously referred to as Twitter, to share their condolences and pay tribute to the late director.

Sundance Movie Pageant mentioned in an announcement, “We lengthen our heartfelt because of Jeff Baena for sharing his tales and contributing to the lasting reminiscences we’ve constructed collectively. Jeff, we’ll miss your wit, humor, and daring imaginative and prescient. Relaxation in peace, buddy.”

“What horrific information,” one X consumer mentioned. “Prayers with Aubrey Plaza, and all those that knew and liked Baena.”

“Terrible. Sending my condolences,” one other social media consumer expressed.

Another person wrote, “Prayers to her and his household.”

Aubrey Plaza has but to publicly touch upon her husband’s loss of life.

In the event you or somebody you realize is fighting ideas of suicide, please attain out to a disaster hotline in your space. Contact the Suicide and Disaster Lifeline at 988 without cost and confidential assist, 24/7.