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*Please note this post mentions suicide. If you or anyone you know needs support, reach out to your local helpline:
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The family of indie filmmaker and screenwriter Jeff Baena, including his wife, actor Aubrey Plaza, have shared a statement following his sudden passing earlier this week.
In a message to media, the family says:
"This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time."
Jeff passed away on Saturday, January 3. The L.A County Coroner's Office determined his cause of death to be suicide.
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The 47-year-old creative was behind a number of successful films including I Heart Huckabees, The Little Hours and Life After Beth.
In addition to Aubrey, Jeff is survived by his mother Barbara Stern, stepfather Roger Stern, father Scott Baena, stepmother Michele Baena, brother Brad and step-siblings Bianca and Jed.
(Feature Image Credit: from the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Jeff attended the premiere of his film "The Little Hours" with aubrey. Photo by C Flanigan/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
A note from Nehal Dalgliesh:
We live in a strange world where we expect immediate statements from people, even when they are in the depths of grief. I don't really know how we got here. I suspect the immediacy of social media and the disintegration of seeing each other as human has something to do with it. The rush to get news out. The rush to respond. The rush to judge and share opinions when we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. I wish we could go back to a place where families had time and space to process their loss. As media, we have to do better.
My deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Jeff.
