Aubrey Plaza Opens Up on Grief Over Late Husband Jeff Baena in Amy Poehler Podcast

Aubrey Plaza opened up on August 20, 2025, about the lasting effects of losing her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena. He died by suicide in January. On Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast, Plaza talked about grief. She called it “a giant ocean of awfulness.” Sometimes she wants to dive in, but other times she tries to escape.

““It’s a Daily Struggle”

In the episode, Poehler mentioned Plaza’s “terrible, terrible, tragic year” and asked how she felt. Plaza replied, “Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I’m okay, but it’s like a daily struggle, obviously”.

A Horror-Film Metaphor for Grief

Plaza said her experience was like the 2025 dark thriller The Gorge, which stars Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. She explained that the film shows two cliffs across a gorge full of monsters. She found this image powerful.gt; ““At all times there’s a giant ocean of awfulness… Sometimes I just want to dive into it and be in it, sometimes I just look at it, sometimes I try to get away from it. But it’s always there”.

Comfort from Frankie, Her “Therapy Dog”

Plaza spoke about her emotions and the support from her close friends and dog, Frankie. She referred to him as her “therapy dog” since her husband died. She said daily Zoom calls and messages with friends, plus Frankie’s presence, have been “hugely comforting” during this time.

Remembering Jeff Baena

Jeff Baena was a screenwriter and director. He created films like Life After Beth (2014), Joshy (2016), and Spin Me Round (2022). Sadly, he died by suicide on January 3, 2025. He and Plaza married in 2021 after being together for over a decade. They quietly separated in late 2024 but stayed close until his passing. Plaza and Baena teamed up on Life After Beth. This project kicked off Baena’s career as a director.

Looking Ahead

Despite her grief, Plaza is promoting her role in Ethan Coen’s upcoming dark comedy Honey Don’t! and will soon begin work on The Heidi Fleiss Story, in which she will both produce and star. She saw the project as a new challenge. It offered her a chance to use her creativity while she faces personal loss.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. In the U.S., call or text 988; in Australia, call Lifeline at 13 11 14; elsewhere, please consult local resources.