Robert Pietranton Dies: Longtime Warner Bros. Television PR Executive Was 56

The TV communications ranks have lost a beloved longtime member: Robert Pietranton, most recently SVP Publicity & Communications for the Warner Bros. Television Group, died suddenly Nov. 19 at his Los Angeles home. He was 56.

Friends and colleagues are still in shock and disbelief as Pietranton had been in the office working as usual the day before his passing. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

One of the nicest PR executives to deal with, Pietranton was known for his impeccable work ethic and staying cool under pressure. He was always professional, diligent and responsive, answering reporters’ inquiries at any hour. With his knowledge of the industry, sense of humor and an infectious laugh he also was fun to talk to, making him a rare person you looked forward to call on the phone at a time we do the vast majority of communications over email and text in the name of efficiency.

Underscoring how valued and well liked Pietranton was, he had been at WBTV for two decades through several regime changes, asked to stay and keep a steady hand as executives come and go.

“There are no words to describe just how much Robert has meant to everyone at Warner Bros. Television Group,” said Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks. “He was the heart and soul of not just our publicity department, but of our broader Studio. Throughout his 20+ year tenure, he was our confidant, our voice of reason, and our first stop in a brewing crisis. Beyond his impeccable reputation within our industry, he was most importantly our friend. His kindness and warm laugh will be deeply missed. We are heartbroken beyond measure and are keeping him and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”

A Las Vegas native who was a competitive soccer player growing up, Pietranton graduated from Loyola Marymount University and started his career at Levine Schneider PR. He worked at NBC Entertainment in the Must See TV era, ran PR for DreamWorks Television in the company’s early years and served as VP Media Relations for Sony Pictures Television before joining Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Marketing in February 2006 as Director, Publicity, rising through the ranks to SVP.

Over the years, Pietranton played a key role in the success of a slew of shows including Abbott Elementary, All American, The Bachelor franchise, The Big Bang Theory, the DC Arrow-verse, ER, Gossip Girl, The Jennifer Hudson Show, The Mentalist, Mom, The Pitt, Riverdale, Smallville, Shameless, Shrinking, Supernatural, Running Point, Ted Lasso, Two and a Half Men, The Voice, and The West Wing.

While dedicated to the TV industry his entire career, for Pietranton television came second to his passion for the music of Bruce Springsteen. The Boss lost one of its biggest fans in Pietranton who traveled the country to attend dozens of his concerts over the years and watched Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere several times since its release last month.

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Pietranton attended many of the Springsteen concerts with his longtime friends, fellow communication executives Stuart Levine, who works at NBC, and Brandon Shaw.

“In a comparison I know he would treasure, Robert was the Pele of PR, the Clemente of communication,” said Levine, referencing another passion of Pietranton, professional soccer. “We bonded over many things, including our absolute love of television. We could have a 30-minute conversation dissecting one scene from Deadwood and then an hour conversation about a scene from The Wire the very next day. He was my friend. He was my colleague. He was the best.”

Deadwood creator David Milch and The Wire‘s David Simon are two of the three Davids whose drama series Pietranton was a big fan of, along with The Sopranos‘ David Chase. He also loved movies, particularly the work of Martin Scorsese, The Pittsburgh Steelers, Wordle, Eurovision and performing small acts of kindness for those around him.

With his loyalty, easy-going nature and no ego, always shunning the spotlight, Pietranton had the innate ability to turn colleagues into lifelong friends who are now mourning his loss.

Among them are fellow PR executives Tammy Golihew from Amazon MGM Studios, and Karen Barragan from Blumhouse. They worked with Pietranton at Sony TV before Golihew and Pietranton reunited for a 12-year stint at WBTV.

“Robert Pietranton was a rare gem of a human being,” Golihew said. “Razor sharp, whip-smart and sporting an encyclopedic knowledge of our industry, he was the G.O.A.T of Written Communications. He was also funny, supportive and passionate about the things and people that he loved. I am devastated for all of us, who called him friend, that the irreplaceable Bobby P is gone.”

Bobby P was one of several monikers Pietranton was known affectionately by his friends, along with RP, which is also how he used to sign emails, P, BP, Piet, and Bobby Gene, a reference to the Bruce Springsteen song “Bobby Jean.”

“My friend Robert was brilliant, loyal, generous, dependable, and one of the finest strategists I’ve ever known,” Barragan said. “I loved him as much as he loved Springsteen, and losing him breaks my heart.”

Pietranton, who celebrated is 56th birthday last week, is survived by his brother, Ryan Pietranton, his nephews Michael and Matthew, and hundreds of mentees throughout the PR business who were lucky to have him as mensch.  A celebration of life event will be announced at a later date.