Revisiting Jeff Baena’s film career before his death at 47

Jeff Brothers has written and directed numerous independent television shows and films his sudden death in January 2025.

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

Life after Beth with an asterisk Aubrey Plazawho started dating Baena four years earlier. A couple who got married in 2020 later collaborated at the movies Three small hours and Spin me.

“It’s an amazing experience to work with your partner in this way,” gushed Plaza MovieFreak in 2017. “I’ve worked with Jeff since his first film. I’ve seen him develop and I’ve seen him grow. It’s a really weird dynamic that we have. Sometimes it’s challenging, but it’s also really worth it do something together.”

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

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

Brethren he died almost three years later in January 2025, aged 47. Keep scrolling to revisit his star-studded filmography:

“I Heart Huckabees”

Baena co-wrote the 2004 film David O. Russellwho also served as director. She played the lead role in the film Cast: Jude Law, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Schwartzman, Naomi Watts, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin and Isabelle Huppert.

‘Life After Beth’

Life after Beth was Baen’s directorial debut, which he also wrote prior to its 2014 release. In addition to Plaza, the film featured Starring: Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Anna Kendrick and Matthew Gray Gubler.

‘Joshy’

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

“Jeff (came) on set Commonwealth in our sixth season and he asked me to play a small part in his movie, josh,Brie recalled working with Baena during an interview in 2022 Accelerator. “There was no script for it. All his films that I’ve been a part of, before this one, were completely improvised. So he came to my dressing room (room). We arranged a meeting 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.” It was one day. I’m in two scenes in that movie. I thought the story was cool. And then it grew from there.”

“The Little Hours”

The next year, Brie and Plaza reunited to play the nuns in 2017 Small hours. brie’s husband Dave Francohe also starred in the film as well Kate Micucci, Fred Armisen, Jemima Kirke and Nick Offerman.

Brie told Collider in 2022 that Baen was pitching Small hours he was on the phone with her and Franco, who were both excited at the prospect of working on an entirely improvised film.

‘horse girl’

Brie once again led Baena A girl on a horsewhich debuted in 2020. The film also featured Shannon, Goldenite, Stella Chestnut, John Ortiz and Debby Ryan.

“Dave and me he lived quite close to Jeff and Aubrey. “Jeff and I started hanging out pretty regularly, like friends, and we’d talk about different ideas on these long road trips,” Brie told Collider two years later. “Eventually I felt comfortable enough with him to talk to him about my idea A girl on a horsewhich we co-wrote and co-produced. It was such a good experience.”

‘Cinema Toast’

Baena created and wrote an eclectic TV show for 2021, with episodes starring stars such as Brie, Christina Ricci, Chloe Fineman, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Jake Johnson.

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

‘Spin Me Round’

Brothers cowrote 2022 Spin me with Brie, who also starred in the romantic comedy alongside Plaza. Including other performers Jake Picking, Lil Rel Howery, Ego Nwodim, Alessandro Nivola and Zach Woods.

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