Aubrey Plaza’s husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, has died at the age of 47.
According to PEOPLE magazine, Baena was discovered at his home in Los Angeles on Friday morning (3 January).
The cause of death is currently unclear.
Baena was best known for his numerous writing and directing credits, including work on Life After Beth, Joshy, Spin Me Round and I Heart Huckabees.
Baena and Plaza have been married since 2021 after first starting dating 10 years earlier.
Plaza told GQ in November 2022 that the pair had tied the knot in a low-key ceremony back in 2020.
The pair have worked together on numerous titles, including Cinema Toast in which Plaza made her directorial debut.
“It was very hectic while we were making the show because we were quarantined and Jeff, he created the show; it was his idea,” Plaza told PEOPLE in 2021.
“Our house became this strange post-production facility and he’s downstairs on his Zooms or on his sessions and I’m upstairs editing, we’re just going back and forth.”
In a statement, Plaza’s reps told Deadline that ‘the family is devastated and asks for privacy at this difficult time’.
LADbible Group has reached out to Baena’s reps for comment.
More to follow.
Featured Image Credit: George Pimentel/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival Monica Schipper/FilmMagic
Lucy Devine
Teenage girl with the bodily age of 152 years old dies aged 19 due to rare condition
Beandri Booysen suffered from a very rare genetic condition
A girl with a very rare genetic condition which causes rapid bodily aging has died at the age of 19 in South Africa.
Influencer Beandri Booysen had been diagnosed with something called Progeria – also known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) – an incredibly rare condition which affects only around one in four million babies in the world and causes children to rapidly age.
Babies born with the condition tend to appear healthy at birth, but tend to start showing signs of premature aging within the first two years of life.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Progeria slows a person’s growth rate and hampers their weight gain as well as leading to a number of other symptoms including hair loss, wrinkled skin and a loss of fat underneath the skin.
Booysen, from South Africa, had gained a significant following on social media after she and her family shared her journey with thousands of people.
Beandri Booysen died at the age of 19 (Beandri Our Inspiration/Facebook)
However, earlier this month (18 December), her family released a statement on Facebook announcing that she had sadly died.
In the group ‘Beandri, Our Inspiration’, which was created by her family 15 years ago, they said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Beandri Booysen, one of South Africa’s most beloved and inspiring young women. Beandri was not only known for her vibrant personality and infectious laugh but also as the last surviving individual in South Africa living with Progeria – a rare genetic condition that causes children to age prematurely.
“Despite the challenges she faced, Beandri radiated hope and joy. She became a symbol of awareness for Progeria and other special needs, using her unique spirit to inspire thousands of people worldwide.
“The Booysen family kindly requests privacy during this profoundly difficult time as they mourn the loss of their beloved Beandri.
“Further details regarding the memorial service will be shared in due course.”
Her mother shared on 8 October that Beandri had gone in for heart surgery and had thanked fans for their support, as per The Independent.
Progeria is a genetic disease which causes children to start aging rapidly, resulting in them having a very low life expectancy. (Beandri Our Inspiration/Facebook)
Many were quick to share their condolences on social media, with one person writing: “Prayers for the family for the loss of such a precious little young lady.”
Another said: “Condolences to all her loved ones! She was a true inspiration.”
Beandri’s condition saw her body age eight years, putting her bodily age around 152 years, as per The Mirror.
While it is a genetic disease, research into Progeria indicates that it’s not hereditary and instead comes from a spontaneous mutation in the LMNA gene, according to MedlinePlus.
