While accepting his Golden Globe award for Best Director for “The Brutalist,” Brady Corbet turned his attention to a recent loss that has left Hollywood in mourning.
After thanking the hundreds of people who worked on “The Brutalist,” including distributor A24 and his “fellow producers” and a “beautiful cast,” Corbet capped off his speech by honoring three people who he lost during the seven years he spent making the film, including his grandfather and his grandfather’s brother. Corbet concluded by saying “finally, tonight my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s [Baena] family. Good night.”
Baena, a screenwriter and director known for his dark comedies “Little Hours” and “Life After Beth,” died of suicide on Friday. Plaza was Baena’s wife and starred in both “The Little Hours” and “Life After Beth.” Baena also had credits on “Spin Me Round” starring Alison Brie, “Joshy,” a dramedy starring Adam Pally and Jenny Slate, and “Horse Girl,” which he worked on alongside Brie.
Actors in the industry have paid tribute to Baena online, including Brie, Pally and Molly Shannon, sharing fond memories of working with him over the years.
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Corbet also took the opportunity to honor his friend Kevin Turen, a producer who died in November. Turen worked on shows like “Euphoria” and “The Idol” and films like “The Birth of a Nation,” “Assassination Nation,” “Waves,” “Pieces of a Woman” and Ti West’s “X” trilogy.
Of all three people Corbet acknowledged from his personal life, he said that “I wouldn’t be standing here tonight if it were not for their influence.”
If you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.