Peter Berg | |
|---|---|
 Berg in 2012 | |
| Born | (1964-03-11)March 11, 1964 (age 61)[1] New York City, U.S. |
| Education | The Taft School |
| Alma mater | Macalester College |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Notable work | The Rundown,Friday Night Lights,The Kingdom,Hancock,Battleship,Lone Survivor,Deepwater Horizon,Patriots Day |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Peter Berg (born March 11, 1964)[1] is an American director, producer, writer, and actor. His directorial film works include the black comedyVery Bad Things (1998), the action comedyThe Rundown (2003), the sports dramaFriday Night Lights (2004), the action thrillerThe Kingdom (2007), the superhero comedy-dramaHancock (2008), the military science fiction war filmBattleship (2012), the war filmLone Survivor (2013), the disaster dramaDeepwater Horizon (2016), theBoston Marathon bombing dramaPatriots Day (2016), the action thrillerMile 22 (2018), and theaction comedySpenser Confidential (2020), the latter five all starringMark Wahlberg. In addition to cameo appearances in the last six of these titles, he has had prominent acting roles in films includingNever on Tuesday (1989),Shocker (1989), ‘’A Midnight Clear’’(1992),The Last Seduction (1994),The Great White Hype (1996),Cop Land (1997),Corky Romano (2001),Collateral (2004),Smokin' Aces (2006), andLions for Lambs (2007).
In television, Berg created theABC seriesWonderland (2000). He developed theNBC seriesFriday Night Lights (2006–11), adapted from his film, earning twoPrimetime Emmy Award nominations. As an actor, he is best known for his role as Dr. Billy Kronk on theCBSmedical dramaChicago Hope (1995–99).[2]
Berg was born on March 11, 1964[1] in New York City, the son of Laurence "Larry" Berg,[3] a US Marine, and Sally (née Winkler) Berg.[4] Berg's father was Jewish, as was his maternal grandfather.[5] His mother was Christian.[6]
Through his mother, Berg is a second cousin of writerH. G. Bissinger, whose bookFriday Night Lights provided the basis for Berg's film and TV series of the same name.[7][8][9] His mother co-founded a nonprofit directory of youth-focused charities named Catalog for Giving, and worked at a psychiatric hospital when Berg was growing up.[10] He has a younger sister, Mary.
Peter was a student in the Chappaqua School System. After graduating fromThe Taft School in 1980,[11] Berg attendedMacalester College inSaint Paul, Minnesota, where he majored in theater arts and theater history and graduated in 1984.[12] Berg later moved to Los Angeles to pursue his film career.[12]
In his early days in Los Angeles, Berg worked such jobs as a prop assistant and a driver.[13] Berg acted in21 Jump Street[12] and later inNever on Tuesday,Miracle Mile,Race For Glory,Shocker,Heart of Dixie,Tale of Two Sisters andGoing Overboard in 1989.[14] He acted inGenuine Risk in 1990[14] and inLate for Dinner andCrooked Hearts in 1991.[12] In the early 1990s, he appeared inFire in the SkyAspen Extreme,Across the Moon andF.T.W..[14]
In 1992, Berg gained recognition for playing a World War II soldier in the filmA Midnight Clear.[2] In 1998, Berg made his feature directorial debut withVery Bad Things, ablack comedy starringJon Favreau,Christian Slater,Jeremy Piven,Daniel Stern, andLeland Orser. The film, which was shown at the Toronto and San Sebastian Film Festivals, received mixed critical reception. In 2000, he createdWonderland, an edgy dramatic television series set in apsychiatric emergency room. While theABC show received rave reviews and garnered a cult following, it failed to deliver ratings and was canceled after the second episode had aired.[2]
In 2003, Berg directed the action comedyThe Rundown. StarringDwayne Johnson andSeann William Scott, the film received mixed reviews from critics and disappointed at the box office, only grossing $80 million of its reported $85 million budget.[15]
In 2004, Berg began work on his third directorial effort,Friday Night Lights, a football film based onThe New York Times bestseller written byBuzz Bissinger.[16] In 2006, Berg developed and became executive producer ofNBC'sPeabody[17] andEmmy Award-winning drama[18]Friday Night Lights, which takes inspiration from the book and Berg's film of the same name, but features an original storyline and new characters.[19]
Berg appeared alongsideTom Cruise in theRobert Redford directed war filmLions for Lambs (2007) as Lt. Colonel Falco.[20] Berg followed up in 2007 with directingThe Kingdom, aMichael Mann-produced action-political thriller set in Saudi Arabia, starringAcademy Award winnersJamie Foxx andChris Cooper, also withJennifer Garner[21] whom Berg met when he appeared on the television seriesAlias.[22]
Berg directed the 2008 filmHancock, starringWill Smith,Charlize Theron andJason Bateman, that grossed over $600,000,000 million worldwide.[23]
Berg directed aHulu commercial featuringAlec Baldwin, which bothThe New York Times andTime named best spot ofSuper Bowl XLIII.[24] In 2009, Berg directed a two-hour pilot movie for theFox television seriesVirtuality. Even though the show was not picked up for a full season, the pilot was released on DVD exclusively throughBest Buy. Berg also directed theESPN documentary30 for 30: Kings Ransom in 2009. Berg also co-wrote the filmThe Losers (2010).[25]
Berg also directed the science-fiction action filmBattleship (2012), a live-action adaptation of the board game, and the war filmLone Survivor (2013), an adaptation of Marcus Lutrell'sbook of the same name.[26]Variety writer Justin Chang said Berg delivered "his most serious-minded work to date withLone Survivor."[27] The following year, Berg acted as producer on the 2014 filmHercules, which he was originally slated to direct before being replaced byBrett Ratner.[28]
In 2013, Berg created the opening animation sequence forESPN'sMonday Night Football, the 80-second graphic featuredDarth Vader,Pac-Man, PresidentRonald Reagan and football highlights of 44 years.[29]
In 2014, he directed the first two episodes ofHBO'sThe Leftovers.[30]
In 2015, Berg launched the nonfiction studio Film 45 to complement his fiction studio Film 44.[31]
In 2016, Berg directed the filmDeepwater Horizon, based on theDeepwater Horizon explosion. Berg replaced directorJ. C. Chandor, who had exited the film due to creative differences.[32] That same year, he directedCBS Films'Patriots Day, about theBoston Marathon bombing,[33] and the following year directed the action thrillerMile 22.[34] All three films starredMark Wahlberg.
In 2017, Berg directed an ambitious commercial forHyundai, which was recorded after the kickoff ofSuper Bowl LI and aired right after the game.[35] His Film 44 company was recently signed to a first look deal withNetflix, which saw the release of his most recent filmSpenser Confidential, the director's fifth collaboration with Wahlberg.[36]
In 2019, Berg directed a historic commercial for theNational Football League, "...football fans witnessed another milestone moment with the premiere of the NFL'sSuper Bowl commercial entitledThe 100-Year Game. The two minute ad, which kicked off the celebration of the NFL's 100th season garnered the No. 1 spot inUSA Today's Ad Meter with the publication describing it as "a tour de force starring an assemblage of many of the greats of NFL history."[37]
In 2024, Berg announced he was working on a film based on the bookThe Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II.[38]The Mosquito Bowl is set to release onNetflix in 2026.[39]
In 1993, Berg was married to Elizabeth Rogers; they have one child and divorced in 1998.[40][41]
In July 2015, Berg criticizedESPN's decision to honorCaitlyn Jenner with theArthur Ashe Courage Award by sharing his opinion on Instagram, where he posted aFacebook photo of Army veteran and double amputeeGregory D. Gadson alongside one of Jenner. The meme's caption said: "One man traded 2 legs for the freedom of the other totrade 2 balls for 2 boobs. Guess which man made the cover ofVanity Fair, was praised for his courage byPresident Obama, and is to be honored with the 'Arthur Ashe Courage Award' by ESPN?"[42][43][44] After being criticized for the meme, Berg later said: "I have the utmost respect for Caitlyn Jenner and I am a strong supporter of equality and the rights of trans people everywhere. I also believe that we don’t give enough attention to our courageous returning war veterans, many of whom have sacrificed their bodies and mental health for our country and our principals [sic]--principals [sic] that include the freedom to live the life you want to live without persecution or abuse."[45][46]
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Very Bad Things | Yes | Yes | No | Also composer ("Walls Come Down") |
| 2003 | The Rundown | Yes | No | No | |
| 2004 | Friday Night Lights | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2007 | The Kingdom | Yes | No | No | |
| 2008 | Hancock | Yes | No | No | |
| 2010 | The Losers | No | Yes | No | |
| 2012 | Battleship | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2013 | Lone Survivor | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2016 | Deepwater Horizon | Yes | No | No | |
| Patriots Day | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| 2018 | Mile 22 | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2020 | Spenser Confidential | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2026 | The Mosquito Bowl | Yes | Yes | Yes | Upcoming film |
Executive producer
| Producer only
|
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story | Bobby | |
| 1989 | Never on Tuesday | Eddie | |
| Miracle Mile | Band Member | ||
| Race for Glory | Chris Washburn | ||
| Shocker | Jonathan Parker | ||
| Heart of Dixie | Jenks | ||
| Tale of Two Sisters | Gardner | ||
| Going Overboard | Mort Ginsberg | as Pete Berg | |
| 1990 | Genuine Risk | Henry | |
| Forradalom után | |||
| 1991 | Late for Dinner | Frank Lovegren | |
| Crooked Hearts | Tom | ||
| 1992 | A Midnight Clear | Bud Miller | |
| 1993 | A Case for Murder | Jack Hemmet | |
| Fire in the Sky | David Whitlock | ||
| Aspen Extreme | Dexter Rutecki | ||
| 1994 | Across the Moon | Lyle | |
| Uneviled | Drug dealer | ||
| F.T.W. | Clem Stuart | ||
| The Last Seduction | Mike Swale | ||
| Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story | Dennis Byrd | ||
| 1995 | Heavyweights | Chef (uncredited) | |
| 1996 | The Great White Hype | Terry Conklin | |
| Girl 6 | Caller No 1—Bob | ||
| 1997 | Cop Land | Joey Randone | |
| 1998 | Very Bad Things | Doctor | |
| 1999 | Dill Scallion | Nate Clumson | |
| 2001 | Corky Romano | Paulie Romano | |
| 2004 | Collateral | Richard Weidner | |
| 2006 | Smokin' Aces | "Pistol" Pete Deeks | |
| 2007 | Lions for Lambs | Lt. Col. Falco | |
| The Kingdom | FBI Agent | ||
| 2008 | Hancock | Doctor | Uncredited |
| 2011 | POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold | Himself | Documentary |
| 2012 | Battleship | Sonar Mate | Uncredited |
| 2013 | Lone Survivor | Navy Personnel | |
| 2015 | Trophy Kids | Himself | Documentary |
| 2016 | Deepwater Horizon | Mr. Skip | as Pete Berg |
| Patriots Day | Guy opening MIT Door | as Pete Berg | |
| 2018 | Mile 22 | Lucas | as Pete Berg |
| Year | Title | Director | Executive producer | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1997 | Chicago Hope | Yes | No | Yes | Episodes "Colonel of Truth" and "Quiet Riot" (as Peter W. Berg) |
| 2000 | Wonderland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Creator, Episode "Pilot" |
| 2006–2011 | Friday Night Lights | Yes | Yes | Yes | Creator, Episodes "Pilot" and "East of Dillon" |
| 2009 | 30 for 30 | Yes | No | No | Episode "Kings Ransom", Also producer |
| Virtuality | Yes | Yes | No | TV movie | |
| 2009–2010 | Trauma | No | Yes | No | |
| 2011–2012 | Prime Suspect | Yes | Yes | No | Episode "Pilot" |
| 2014–2017 | The Leftovers | Yes | Yes | No | Episodes "Pilot" and "Penguin One, Us Zero" |
| 2015–2019 | Ballers | Yes | Yes | No | Episode "Pilot" |
| 2018 | The People's Fighters: Teofilo Stevenson and the Legend of Cuban Boxing | Yes | No | No | Documentary film, also narrator |
| 2019–2020 | Dare Me | No | Yes | No | |
| 2021 | McCartney 3,2,1 | No | Yes | No | Documentary series |
| 2022 | Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons | No | Yes | No | 3 episodes, Documentary series[47] |
| 2023 | Painkiller | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2024 | God Save Texas | No | Yes | No | Documentary series |
| 2025 | American Primeval | Yes | Yes | No | |
| TBA | The Green Beret's Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse | No | Yes | No |
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 21 Jump Street | Jerome Sawyer | Episode "Champagne High" |
| 1995 | Fallen Angels | Augie / Joe Wales | 2 episodes |
| 1995–1999 | Chicago Hope | Dr. Billy Kronk | 106 episodes |
| 1996 | The Naked Truth | 1 episode | |
| 2002 | The King of Queens | Lil' Eddie | Episode "Kirbed Enthusiasm" |
| Alias | Agent Noah Hicks | Episodes "Snowman" and "Masquerade" | |
| 2008 | Friday Night Lights | Morris "Mo" McArnold | Episode "May The Best Man Win" |
| 2008–2010 | Entourage | Himself | Season 5 and Season 7 |
| 2011 | Prime Suspect | Deputy Chief Daniel Costello | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Californication | Himself | Episode "The Way of the Fist" |
| 2014 | The Leftovers | Pete | 2 episodes |
| 2015–2017 | Ballers | Coach Berg | 7 episodes |
| 2017 | Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television | Himself | Episode: "Eight Is the New Se7en" |
| 2023 | Painkiller | Car Salesman | 1 episode |
| 2025 | American Primeval | Fancher | 1 episode |
| 2025 | The Studio | Pete | 1 episode "The Promotion" |
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Addicted" | Enrique Iglesias |
| 2008 | "Keeps Gettin' Better" | Christina Aguilera |
| 2012 | "One More Night" | Maroon 5 |
| 2014 | "Maps" |
