The television world has been rocked by the sudden death of one of its most respected behind-the-scenes figures, with industry insiders reeling after senior communications executive Robert Pietranton died unexpectedly at his Los Angeles home. He was 56. Word of Robert’s passing spread quickly through the tight-knit PR and publicity circles, with many left stunned as he had been in the office working as normal just a day earlier.
Friends say the loss has hit especially hard because there had been no sign that anything was wrong. The cause of death remains unknown. Robert, most recently SVP Publicity & Communications for the Warner Bros. Television Group, spent more than two decades at the studio and became one of the most trusted voices in TV communications. Colleagues say he set a standard few could match – calm under pressure, meticulous with deadlines and never too busy to answer a call, no matter the hour.
Warner Bros. Television Group Chairman and CEO Channing Dungey said the loss has devastated the studio: “There are no words to describe just how much Robert has meant to everyone at Warner Bros. Television Group. He was the heart and soul of not just our publicity department, but of our broader Studio… 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 and former competitive footballer, Robert graduated from Loyola Marymount University before building an enviable résumé across NBC Entertainment, DreamWorks Television and Sony Pictures Television.
He joined Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Marketing in 2006 and climbed the ranks to SVP.
Over the years, he was instrumental in promoting some of TV’s biggest shows, including Abbott Elementary, All American, The Big Bang Theory, The West Wing, The Bachelor, Ted Lasso, Supernatural, Gossip Girl, Two and a Half Men, Mom, Riverdale, and dozens more.
American celebrity news show Extra paid tribute to him at the end of its latest episode.
Outside the office, Robert was a passionate Bruce Springsteen devotee who travelled the US to attend concerts with close friends and fellow PR bosses Stuart Levine and Brandon Shaw.
Levine said Robert’s brilliance extended far beyond press strategy: “In a comparison I know he would treasure, Robert was the Pele of PR, the Clemente of communication… He was my friend. He was my colleague. He was the best.”
Longtime collaborators Tammy Golihew and Karen Barragan also shared tributes, with Golihew calling him “a rare gem of a human being” and Barragan saying: “I loved him as much as he loved Springsteen, and losing him breaks my heart.”
Robert is survived by his brother Ryan Pietranton, nephews Michael and Matthew, and the many mentees who credit him with shaping their careers. A celebration of life will be announced in due course.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
