Mark Piznarski, a television director specializing in pilot episodes and teen dramas, passed away on April 4. He was 71 years old. The Directors Guild of America announced his death in its In Memoriam section. His family declined to provide further details for a formal obituary.
Piznarski built a career directing premiere episodes across multiple networks and series. His work on The CW’s Gossip Girl spanned all six seasons from its 2007 debut through December 2012, totaling 14 episodes. He directed the pilot for Veronica Mars in 2004, a series created by Rob Thomas that starred Kristin Bell. The character Stosh “Piz” Piznarski on that show was named in his honor. Additional pilot credits included ABC’s Relativity, the WB’s Everwood, Fox’s Still Life, USA’s In Plain Sight, The CW’s 90210, and ABC Family’s The Lying Game.
Beyond pilots, Piznarski’s television directing career encompassed episodes of programs including NYPD Blue, American Dreams, Friday Night Lights, Once and Again, Crisis, Madam Secretary, iZombie, and Riverdale. He also directed feature films such as Here on Earth and Looking for Sunday, on which he served as co-writer.
Born on July 7, 1954, Piznarski attended Downers Grove South High School in Illinois and studied at the University of Northern Colorado and Columbia College in Chicago. He began his career as an assistant director on Edward Zwick’s 1986 film About Last Night, before transitioning to network television. His surviving family includes his son, Michael.
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