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Starring: Alex Ross Perry, Jeff Baena.
Getty Images (2)Weeks from his premature passingfriends of the late filmmaker Jeff Brothers they still remember his larger-than-life personality and warmth.
Alex Ross Perrya friend of Baena and his wife, Aubrey Plazahe reflected emotionally on his friendship with Baena Vanity Fair essay published on Wednesday, January 22, revealing that Baena was known for hosting star-studded game nights. “I asked the group chat to share photos of Jeff’s house — game nights, dinners. I looked through the 60 photos Chad Hartigan sent out various meetings over the past year,” he said. “They capture the essence of Jeff’s house, but nothing will replicate the spirit.
According to Perry, 40, Baena’s game-night guest list would include “an actor or two you might know, a filmmaker you’re a fan of, and then some guy or maybe a couple of guys.” Despite the famous faces, Perry said “no personality was bigger than any other, except for Jeff” at the meetings.
“Sometimes you got the sense that his wife, Aubrey Plaza, was content to be another game night guest, even in her own home,” he added. “It wasn’t her party. When the doors opened and the players walked through, Jeff and Aubrey’s home became Jeff’s home by Jeff’s rules.”
Aubrey Plaza and family pay tribute to Jeff Baen. “It is with deep sadness and grief that we announce the sudden and unexpected death of Jeff Baena, a beloved son, husband, brother, uncle and friend to many,” Baena’s obituary, published in the Miami Herald, read. “Jeff left us too soon, but despite (…)
Baena’s competitive side, which Perry has dubbed “game night Jeff,” is the side of the late star that Perry became familiar with. “I knew him well. Perhaps the most famous Jeff. To me, that meant Codenames, Balderdash, Rummikub and Scrabble,” he recalled. “He was undefeated — and unbeatable — at Scrabble. He was amazing and crazy to play, and I’m incredible at Scrabble.”
Perry lived with Baena for a month during filming in 2016 Joshyduring which he said “every night was game night”. Perry explained, “Each day ended with the cast eating together and listening to music curated by Jeff, and only Jeff. ‘Work’ for him was an opportunity to sit at the head of the table and not get up for weeks at a time. Host, curate, introduce, nurture. Those were Jeff’s goals, whether for a night at his house or on set for weeks.”
In his essay, Perry noted that he “will not be sitting at Jeff’s table again on game night” after his death at the age of 47 earlier this month. “Honestly, I don’t know what meaning these memories will have. I wanted to write it so I could read it later and remember what Jeff’s house meant to me.”
News of Baen’s death emerged on January 3 after the indie director was found dead in his home. Medical examiner’s records reviewed My Weekly wrote his cause of death like suicide.
Celebrities are speaking out and expressing their grief and support for Aubrey Plaza following the untimely death of her husband Jeff Baena. “No words can touch this painful time,” actress Selma Blair wrote in Plaza’s latest Instagram post on Saturday, Jan. 4. “Just love, strength and support from everyone. I’m very sorry.” (…)
Square, who married Baena in 2021broke her silence on the death of her husband through a statement from a representative My Weekly “It is an unimaginable tragedy,” the statement said. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”
Perry paid tribute earlier to his late friend in long Instagram post January 8th. “There will be no Scrabble rematch – he’s going undefeated against me and I’m great at Scrabble,” he captioned a photo of the two. “He knew words that other people didn’t. He had facts that were so esoteric that they could not be verified. He had opinions that were so confusing they were definite. He claimed to have various rods and cones and was able to see colors that others could not.”
