Robert Pietranton, a longtime public relations executive at Warner Bros. Television, has died.
Pietranton died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 56.
He had been with Warner Bros. TV for more than 20 years, rising through the ranks and becoming senior vp publicity and communications for the studio in 2021. His career also included time at Sony Pictures TV, DreamWorks Television and NBC.
“There are no words to describe just how much Robert has meant to everyone at Warner Bros. Television Group,” Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks, said in a statement. “He was the heart and soul of not just our publicity department, but of our broader studio. Throughout his 20-plus 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.”
Pietranton was born Nov. 10, 1969, in Virginia and grew up in Las Vegas. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, he began his career at Levine Schneider PR before moving to NBC during the Must-See TV era. After stints at DreamWorks and Sony, he moved to WBTV.
His career included work on PR campaigns for hundreds of shows, including some of TV’s biggest of this century: ER, The West Wing, Ted Lasso, The CW’s Arrow-verse, The Big Bang Theory, Abbott Elementary and The Pitt, among many others. He was also known for his willingness to mentor younger colleagues who were entering the business.
Pietranton is survived by his brother, Ryan, and nephews Michael and Matthew. A celebration of life event will be announced later.
