‘Still grieving’: Famed Miami director’s family marks his first birthday without him

Barbara Stern would call her son Jeff Baena, the acclaimed screenwriter who co-wrote “I Heart Huckabees” and “Horse Girl,” at 8:30 p.m. on June 29 every year. It’s the exact minute he was born, a moment she’ll never forget.

This year, however, he won’t answer.

Baena, who grew up in Miami, died by suicide in his Los Angeles home on Jan. 3. He was 47.

His family and friends were stunned as his career had taken off. “Horse Girl’ premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020 and was picked up by Netflix.

Ever since Jeff moved to Los Angeles in 1999, June 29 was filled with birthday poker nights, chocolate mousse cake and a vintage Cocker Spaniel figurine.

The writer-director made sure all players honored poker rules and that movies were playing so anyone mad about a poker loss could soothe their financial pain. The dark comedy genius planned for everything.

Most of Jeff’s family lives in the Miami area. Jeff graduated from Killian Senior High in Kendall.

“My parents are still grieving,” said Brad Baena, Jeff’s brother. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The coroner’s report said Aubrey Plaza, the actress who married Baena in 2021, had moved to New York last September while Baena remained in Los Angeles, according to news reports.

READ MORE: Two months after the death of Aubrey Plaza’s husband, a key detail has emerged

Jeff is survived by Plaza, his mother Barbara Stern and stepfather Roger Stern, his father Scott Baena and stepmother Michele Baena, his brother Brad Baena and stepsiblings Bianca Gabay and Jed Fluxman.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

This story was originally published June 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM with the headline "‘Still grieving’: Famed Miami director’s family marks his first birthday without him."