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David Pierce Obituary
July 6,1967 - July 29, 2023
David Albert Pierce, age 56, passed away at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, California on July 29, 2023.
Born in Lewiston, New York, David is the son of Beverly Glaser Pierce and the late Malcom David Pierce. He is survived by his wife Eliane Vieira Gomes Pierce, sister Jamie (Jeffrey) Albright, brother Jeffrey (Patrice) Pierce, and sister Alyse (Richard) Brovitz. Many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews, adored him.
David graduated with honors from University of Binghamton and earned his Juris Doctorate from Cornell Law School.
David founded his entertainment law firm, Pierce Law Group, LLP, in Beverly Hills, California in 1996. He represented such showbusiness luminaries as the iconic Milton Berle and The Comedy Store. His name appears credited on-screen for his involvement in many motion pictures and television programs, including the enormously successful and popular films "The Hunger Games" and "Cabin Fever," as well as "The Artist," which won five Academy Awards in 2012.
He loved the entertainment law profession and enthusiastically shared his experiences and wisdom, including teaching an annual course on the business of running a motion picture production company at UCLA Extension since 1998, serving as an adjunct professor at Elon University and Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television, and as a guest lecturer at St. Petersburg University in Russia. He regularly gave lectures at film festivals and other seminars throughout the United States and the world, including the Slamdance Film Festival, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and in the Dominican Republic.
David served as the Chair of the Entertainment Law Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, as a Trustee on the Executive Board of the Los Angeles chapter of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, and as a Board member of the legendary Friars Club in Beverly Hills. He was a regular columnist for MovieMaker Magazine.
His passion for his Buffalo Bills, his dogs, sailing, skiing, and his own homemade chicken wings, complemented his professional life. David made a yearly visit to his very special place, Camp Seneca Lake, in the Finger Lakes of western New York.
He traveled the world, most recently to Israel where he married his soulmate and true love, Eliane.
Everyone will remember David as a kind, sweet, and loving person who helped and inspired many. He was "Uncle David" to his nieces and nephews with whom he shared fun stories about his showbusiness encounters, always enhanced by his smile and infectious laugh, as can be attested by his devoted California family - Ana Feliciano, Sandra Ramirez, Gregg Glickman, and Mike Kolko. David pursued life to the fullest and devoted himself to Eliane.
Dave would be gratified to say - as he often borrowed from Frank Sinatra - that: "He did it HIS way."
A funeral service will be held at Mesnekoff Funeral Home, 8630 Transit Rd., East Amherst, New York on Sunday, August 6th, at 10am. Livestream will be available at https://www.mesnekoff.com/livestream
Interment will follow at Temple Beth Israel Cemetery, Military Road, Niagara Falls, New York.
Contributions in David's memory can be made to:
The David Albert Pierce Camp Seneca Lake Fund
c/o JCC Greater Rochester
1200 Edgewood Ave
Rochester, New York 14618
The family will be receiving friends on Monday, Aug. 7th from 2-5pm at the Genesee Valley Club, 421 East Ave., Rochester, NY.
22 Entries
Chuck Zigman
October 23, 2023
David was my lawyer, and he would send my screenplays out to producers and studios whenever I needed him to. Over the last several years, I wasn't writing that much anymore, but he would always call me, at least once a year, to check in with me and see how I was doing. He even offered to come and do lectures in the film courses I was teaching. He was always very kind, and I will miss him.
Amy Weissman
August 19, 2023
David was a law school classmate. Back then, I thought he was a great guy, but I didn´t know him as well as I would have liked. Thankfully I got to know him better over the years.
I always knew he was a kind and generous person, and I saw firsthand, not long before he passed away, what a huge heart he had. While he was fighting his own monumental battle, he reached out to support me through mine, offering support, tips, and tricks to help me make it through my surgeries and radiation. He became a cheerleader and confidant. I will never forget him taking care of me at an unfathomably difficult time in his life. I will miss him.
To his wife, family, and friends, you have my deepest sympathy. May his memory be a blessing.
Diane Mock
August 8, 2023
So sorry for your loss.My heart felt condolences to David´s family and friends .May he rest in peace. Sorry I never got to meet him, but I knew his loving mother .
Mitch Karp
August 7, 2023
My deepest condolences. I knew David for 25 years as a friend and former attorney at PLG. He was truly one of a kind.
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Mark Vega
August 7, 2023
David was a cheerleader among cheerleaders. He could make any aspiring independent filmmaker lose the descriptor "aspiring" - always nudging them along encouraging them to hear his gift of confidence whether he was one on one or at Sundance or on one of many Slamdance panels he coordinated and championed. Cheering you on David as you carry the torch forward.
Jason Steinberg
August 6, 2023
I met David at the Montreal Comedy Festival where I received a company hat. He was very friendly and kind. I asked if he could look over my management contract and he said he would. He kept his word. He was one of a kind. RIP
Donna Kanter
August 6, 2023
David was my attorney and friend. We met at the Writers Guild, an awards event that he and his firm generously hosted, and we bonded through laughter at a fatty, finger food neither of us should eat. We formed a professional relationship after he had come to a screening of my film about a group of 12 Jewish comedy legends (okay, 11 1/2 out of 12), his laugh the quickest and loudest. He helped me to ensure distribution, helped me with my next projects, a newest one bound for Italy. Dave's imagination and creativity reached to the heavens, pairing me with his Comedy Store friends, film producers, smart analysts, a terrific law firm member who entered the fray for me on a less pleasant matter and exited victoriously, for us both. Dave was a fun and vibrant guest at my house, recipient of my large, floor pillows for his team of doggies (before Scrappy). I learned a lot about him through our social and business visits and many conversations, what drove his passions, his loyalty, his ever-expanding enthusiasm. He spoke realistically, candidly, about his illness when I met with him, I think a first client to see him back at the office following his initial surgery. He was ever positive, but knowing, planning, wonderfully vulnerable and expressive, filled with gratitude for life and love. I am aware that our loss of Dave is, and will be, difficult - a heart and soul lacuna for me indeed. May our sharing of memories, his memory, keep him alive, our actions and creative endeavors to soar with his sprit. Thank you, David's family, Eliane, Rabbi, family of friends, and Merritt Malloy's poem, for a beautiful ceremony this morning, August 6, 2023. Baruch HaShem. Lovingly, Donna Kanter, Los Angeles
Mike Wech
August 6, 2023
Dave's passing is truly tragic. To his clients, he was not just our lawyer, he was our friend. Dave's humor, compassion, wisdom, loyalty, honesty and knowledge was unmatched.
I'll always remember spending every Sunday watching Bills games with him and our LA crew.
Meeting Dave for the first time was like meeting someone you knew your entire life. As a newbie in LA almost 20 years ago, I was searching for an attorney to help me. I was introduced to Dave as a fellow Buffalonian and he took me in like a brother. He invited me to my first Sunday at Howard Lapides' house to watch the Bills game and from that moment on my extended Bills family in Los Angels was born.
I was so happy for him with his new wife and for the adventures that were ahead of him. It's heartbreaking not to have him around and David will be deeply missed by everyone. He was truly one of the best people I've known.
Marc
August 6, 2023
Sad sad day. Funny, smart, witty and caring guy. You´ll be sadly missed Dave.
Ana, Tony & Danny Feliciano
August 6, 2023
"The greatness of a man is not measured by how much wealth he acquires but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively."
This epitomized David. It was never about the money for him, he wanted only to be of service. In my case, to be the voice and advocate for my beautiful, autistic boys. He battled the school district to get sign language for Danny and his classmates. He was Tony's reference for his very first job interview (which he got). He was open and caring, willing to share with others without any expectation of receiving something back in return. He was my best friend and confidante, the annoying brother I never had, my go-to on The Godfather quotes. He was passionate about defending the little guy, celebratung the success of those he helped, generous of heart and spirit, his benevolence extending to his Dogs Without Borders rescues, Scrappy and Lucy, who were his babies, his loves, his office mascots.
I will never be able to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, watch It's a Wonderful Life or hear Fly Me to the Moon without thinking of you, David. It was my pleasure to bring you macaroni salad and sing the Navy Bean Soup song with you at the hospital. I will miss exchanging jibes with you, our late night gab sessions and your Camp Seneca Lake stories. It was my honor to be your trusted friend. You really did have a wonderful life and those of us that were lucky enough to be a part of it were the better for it. Grief is the price we pay for love. We will miss you, David. You were loved beyond measure. Hope you're enjoying a good cigar with your dad and Paul Schreibman.
Lamar Billups
August 5, 2023
I'll always remember David as being so kind. When I would call, his first words were always, "How can I help you?". It wasn't just rote, he meant that. He had such a big heart. I'm just so very sorry for the Pierce family. May David's memory be a blessing to you all. He will be greatly missed.
Jigna
August 4, 2023
You´ll always be a legend and my big brother in my book, DAP. Thank you for being you. You have always been, with warm regards and best wishes, very truly ours, David Albert Pierce
Jeremy Connors
August 4, 2023
This giant personality of an industry-man encouraged me to feel important enough to be a part of his clientele when I hardly had the confidence to walk through the door, let alone to speak up for myself..!
Those routine in-person visits to see Ben, David and Scrappy were cherished; and always worth the ride out to get exposed to such positively! What a loss, personally and professionally.
Goodbye David, You´ve guarded and inspired the lot of us.
Tim Rhys
August 4, 2023
I´m shocked and immensely saddened to hear this news. I spoke with David a couple of months ago and he was so excited about his new bride and their future life together. David was an immense help to me and my company (MovieMaker) throughout the years and our friendship grew into the kind that allowed us to share many details of our personal lives, from passions to fears to ambitions, that we wouldn´t share with many others. I´m so very sorry for Elaine, his family, and the whole independent film community, for whom he was a true champion. Goodbye, my friend. We´ll see you soon.
stephany slater
August 4, 2023
I have been a friend and client of David for 25yrs. I'm shocked and heartbroken over the news of his passing. I wish his wife and family peace during this difficult time
David Wardle
August 3, 2023
David Was a kind and generous mentor to me. When I was in law school, he offered me an internship, and a few years later he helped me again by giving me work when I needed it. I will always be grateful. Gone too soon. Rest in peace.
Riley Bradford
August 3, 2023
David was such a great supporter of his former students and he'll be dearly missed. He always took the time to hear about our random ideas and adventures and to help elevate whatever we were thinking to the next level.
We'll miss him dearly and are sending all the love in the world to those who know him closely.
Dave Tebo
August 3, 2023
He will always be remembered by me. He was one of the nicest people I knew in the industry. I did work for David for about 30years and got to know him well. He was a great friend and it´s hard to believe that he´s gone. Love you Dave.
Dave Tebo.
Evan Astrowsky
August 2, 2023
Dave you were the best of them all. You left us too soon buddy, you will be sorely missed old friend.
Maria Certo
August 2, 2023
I am so sorry. I truly am at a loss for words.
David was a wonderful and accomplished man who had a sweet spirit since I knew him as a young boy.
Sending all the family my love.
Maria Certo
LewPort Class of 1980
August 2, 2023
On behalf of the LewPort Class of 1980 we would like to send our condolences to our friend and classmate Alyse and her family. We are so sorry for your loss.
Sharon Tasner
August 2, 2023
Jaime and family
So very sorry for the loss of your dear brother and son
May he rest in peace
Sharon and Bob Tasner
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