- - Robert Pietranton, Warner Bros. TV Publicity Exec and Communications Vet, Dies at 56

Michael SchneiderNovember 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM

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Warner Bros.

Somewhere, Robert Pietranton is smiling and spinning his favorite tune, Bruce Springsteen’s “Walk Like a Man” from the “Tunnel of Love” album. The beloved and well-respected communications exec, who just celebrated his birthday on Nov. 10, died Wednesday in Los Angeles. Pietranton was 56.

The news stunned and saddened the tight-knit Hollywood publicity and journalism communities, particularly the TV execs, publicists and reporters who worked closely with Pietranton during his stints at Warner Bros. TV, Sony Pictures TV and DreamWorks. The cause of his death has not yet been disclosed, but Warner Bros. TV said a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

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Pietranton, known for a wide variety of nicknames (this reporter liked to call him “Bobby P”), most recently worked at Warner Bros. TV Group as senior VP, publicity and communications. He had been at Warner Bros. for 20 years, having first joined in 2006 as director of publicity at Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Marketing.

The busy Pietranton worked regularly on projects big and small at the studio, including strategic business and written communications. In one recent notable example, just a few weeks ago he helped Variety on this story about the HBO Max series “The Pitt” would be rolled out on TNT.

“To have worked with Robert was truly a joy,” said Rebecca Marks, the exec VP of publicity and communications at Warner Bros. TV Group. “He was kind, honest, and warm, and his ability to connect with the press was widely respected. Most of all, Robert loved this business dearly. He was a consummate executive whose passion for storytelling was evident in everything he did, and we were so lucky to have him in our lives.

“On a personal note, Robert was not only a colleague but a good friend that I could always count on,” she added. “I couldn’t begin to count the times he helped and supported me, along with so many others in our field. I will forever be grateful to him.”

Prior to Warner Bros. TV, Pietranton spent time at Sony Pictures TV, where he was VP of media relations. And before that, he oversaw PR at DreamWorks TV. He also spent a bit of time doing some freelance work for Variety, particularly for some of this publication’s specials sections, writing about Clint Eastwood, Regina King, Liev Schreiber and others — you can see his stories here. He began his career at Levine Schneider PR and later worked at NBC Entertainment during its “Must-See TV” era as director of electronic publicity for movies, miniseries and specials.

In its tribute to Pietranton, Warner Bros. TV summed it up perfectly: “Pietranton was known for his calm demeanor under pressure, unwavering kindness, generosity, and decency. He was a rare executive who saw character and work ethic as traits valued over title or pedigree, lessons he often shared. He deliberately avoided the spotlight and was often happiest when those around him received the accolades. He personified the word mensch to those fortunate enough to know him.”

As referenced in the lede to this story, Pietranton was known for his love of Springsteen. Among those many nicknames (which also included “RP,” “BP,” “Piet” and “P”) was “Bobby Gene,” a reference to Springsteen’s song “Bobby Jean.” (And also a reference to his full name, Robert Gene Pietranton.)

The super TV fan also embraced dramas from titans like David Milch, David Chase and David Simon (he wrote about “The Wire” for Variety here). A tribute to Pietranton noted his other passions: “Martin Scorsese, the Pittsburgh Steelers, European soccer, entertainment business trivia, Wordle, and performing small acts of kindness for those around him.”

Said his pal Stu Levine, now at NBC but also a former Variety staffer: “In a comparison I know he would treasure, Robert was the Pele of PR, the Clemente of communication. 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.”

Robert Gene Pietranton was born on Nov. 10, 1969, in Virginia to parents Robert G. ‘Piet’ Pietranton and Linda Ann (Cox) Pietranton. He grew up mostly in Las Vegas, attending high school there, where he played soccer. He the graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a bachelor of arts in political science and began his career in PR.

During his two-decade stint at Waner Bros. TV, the shows he worked on included “Abbott Elementary,” “All American,” “The Bachelor” franchise, “The Big Bang Theory,” the DC “Arrow” verse, “ER,” “Extra,” “Fringe,” “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,” among many others.

“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.”

News of Pietranton’s death quickly reverberated among colleagues past and present, among those know knew and loved him. “Robert Pietranton was a rare gem of a human being,” said Tammy Golihew, who worked with Pietranton for years at Warner Bros. before she moved to Amazon. “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.”

Added Karen Barragan, who worked closely with Pietranton at Sony: “My friend Robert was brilliant, loyal, generous, dependable, and one of the finest strategists I’ve ever known. I loved him as much as he loved Springsteen, and losing him breaks my heart.”

Former Warner Bros. publicity exec Scott Rowe said: “Robert was kind, funny, and smart – smart as hell. He was a friend to everyone. A true expert on entertainment, he understood not just the business, but the movies, series, and music themselves. I’m not sure there was a film he hadn’t seen or an episode unwatched. One of my greatest joys was making him laugh. It was a great laugh. It’s a laugh I will never forget. It was big, bright, and often punctuated with a hand-clap.”

Then there’s former Disney exec Brandon Shaw, who considered Pietranton both a mentor and a friend: “As a young person with an interest in the entertainment business, all I wanted to be was our friend Robert Pietranton. And as my career has evolved, no one was better able to guide and provide counsel in tough times and celebrate the success in the up times than our dear friend. I will miss his life lessons, his ear, his heart and his generosity, and thank him from the bottom of my heart for being such an extraordinary friend to me and my family always. On the backstreets until the end, RP.”

Pietranton is survived by his brother, Ryan Pietranton, and his nephews Michael and Matthew.

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