‘I think I'm okay, but…’: Aubrey Plaza shares painful journey after husband Jeff Baena’s death

Actress Aubrey Plaza has broken her silence about the profound grief she continues to face following the death of her husband, Jeff Baena, who died by suicide earlier this year on January 3 at the age of 47.

In a candid conversation on the latest episode of Amy Poehler's podcast "Good Hang", Plaza opened up about her emotional journey and how she's coping with the loss.

During the heartfelt discussion, Amy Poehler, Plaza’s long-time friend and Parks and Recreation co-star, gently addressed the tragedy, acknowledging the difficult year Plaza has endured.

“You've had this terrible, terrible, tragic year. You lost your husband, you've been dealing with that and you've been looking for all different ways in which to feel and find support,” Poehler said.

When asked, “How are you feeling today?” Plaza replied honestly, saying, "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.”

Poehler also touched on Plaza’s close bond with her dog, Frankie, calling her a “therapy dog” in the wake of the loss. Plaza has often mentioned how Frankie’s presence has been comforting throughout her grieving process.

Plaza compares grief to a movie metaphor. The Agatha All Along and White Lotus star shared an unusual, yet deeply personal, metaphor for her grief. She compared it to the 2025 film The Gorge, starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller.

“It’s a really dumb analogy,” she admitted, but described a particular scene where a gorge filled with monsters separates two cliffs.

“feels like what my grief is like … or what grief could be like.”

She explained, “Sometimes I just want to dive into it, and just like be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it's always there.”

A love story revealed in 2021

Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011 and were known for keeping their relationship low-key. It wasn't until May 2021 that fans learned they were married, after Plaza referred to Baena as her “darling husband” in an Instagram post.