Aubrey Plaza’s husband, Jeff Baena, drew inspiration from his family’s struggles with mental health when co-writing the film “Horse Girl.” Tragically, Baena passed away by suicide at the age of 47. Before his untimely death, he collaborated with actress Alison Brie on the project, which was released in 2020. In a Reddit discussion prior to the film’s debut, Baena revealed how personal experiences shaped the narrative. He noted, “Alison and I both have had family members who have had mental illness, and it was a major influence on working on this.”
Baena elaborated on his background, sharing that his first stepmother battled manic depression and frequently sought treatment in Miami facilities due to intervention laws. This personal connection fueled the film’s exploration of mental health issues, prompting a user to ask whether the film served as a critique of current mental health systems. Baena responded by stating that while he wouldn’t categorize “Horse Girl” as an activist film, the treatment of individuals with mental illness was a central theme of the work.
Brie also spoke candidly about her family’s history with mental health, mentioning that her inspiration stemmed from her grandmother’s experience with paranoid schizophrenia. “It’s based on my family’s history with mental illness, specifically my grandmother’s schizophrenia, and my fear of that existing in my DNA,” Brie shared.
Baena was found dead at his Los Angeles home, a discovery made by his assistant, leading to an ongoing investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Coroner’s Office. Plaza, 40, has not publicly commented on her husband’s passing, but a representative stated that she requested privacy during this challenging time. The couple secretly married in 2020 and had no children together, with their relationship spanning over a decade and multiple collaborative projects, including the 2014 film “Life After Beth.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, assistance is available.
