Peter Berg

Peter Berg (born March 11, 1964) is an American director, producer, writer, and actor. His directorial film works include the black comedy Very Bad Things (1998), the action comedy The Rundown (2003), the sports drama Friday Night Lights (2004), the action thriller The Kingdom (2007), the superhero comedy-drama Hancock (2008), the military science fiction war film Battleship (2012), the war film Lone Survivor (2013), the disaster drama Deepwater Horizon (2016), the Boston Marathon bombing drama Patriots Day (2016), the action thriller Mile 22 (2018) and the action comedy Spenser: Confidential (2020), the latter five all starring Mark Wahlberg. In addition to cameo appearances in the last six of these titles, he has had prominent acting roles in films including The Great White Hype (1996), Cop Land (1997), Corky Romano (2001), Collateral (2004), Smokin' Aces (2006), and Lions for Lambs (2007).
In television, Berg developed Friday Night Lights (2006–2011), adapted from his film, earning two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. As an actor, he is best known for his role as Dr. Billy Kronk on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope(1995–1999).[2]
== Early life ==
Berg was born in 1964 in New York City, the son of Laurence "Larry",[3] a US Marine, and Sally (Winkler) Berg.[4] Berg's father was Jewish, as was his maternal grandfather.[5]
Through his mother, Berg is a second cousin of writer H. G. Bissinger, whose book Friday Night Lights provided the basis for Berg's film and TV series of the same name.[6][7][8] His mother co-founded a youth group named Catalog for Giving and worked at a psychiatric hospital when Berg was growing up.[9] He has a younger sister, Mary.
Peter was a student in the Chappaqua School System. After graduating from The Taft School in 1980,[10] Berg attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he majored in theater arts and theater history. He graduated in 1984, and in 1985 moved to Los Angeles to pursue his film career.[citation needed]
== Career ==
Berg put his acting aspirations on hold when he first arrived in Los Angeles, choosing instead to learn about the film business as a production assistant. He acted in 21 Jump Street and Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story (both in 1988). He acted in Never on Tuesday, Miracle Mile, Race For Glory, Shocker, Heart of Dixie, Tale of Two Sisters and Going Overboard in 1989. He acted in Genuine Risk and Forradalom után in 1990. He appeared in Late for Dinner and Crooked Hearts in 1991. In the early 1990s, he appeared in A Midnight Clear, A Case for Murder, Fire in the Sky, Aspen Extreme, Across the Moon, Uneviled and F.T.W.
In 1992, Berg gained recognition for playing a World War II soldier in the film A Midnight Clear. In 1998, Berg made his feature directorial debut with Very Bad Things, a black comedy starring Jon Favreau, Christian Slater, Jeremy Piven, Daniel Stern, and Leland Orser. The film, which was shown at the Toronto and San Sebastian Film Festivals, received mixed critical reception. In 2000, he created Wonderland, an edgy dramatic television series set in an asylum. While the ABC show received rave reviews and garnered a cult following, it failed to deliver ratings and was quickly canceled.
In 2003, Berg directed the action comedy The Rundown. Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Seann William Scott, the film received positive reviews from critics but disappointed at the box office, only grossing 80 million of its reported 85 million budget. In 2004, Berg began work on his third directorial effort, Friday Night Lights, a football film based on the New York Times bestseller written by Buzz Bissinger.[11]
In 2006, Berg developed and became executive producer of NBC’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning drama Friday Night Lights, based on the novel and film of the same name.[citation needed]
He appeared in the war film Lions for Lambs (2007) as Lt. Colonel Falco. Berg followed up in 2007 with The Kingdom, a Michael Mann-produced action-political thriller set in Saudi Arabia, starring Academy Award winners Jamie Foxxand Chris Cooper, also with Jennifer Garner whom Berg met when he appeared in a two-part episode of Alias where he played Garner's ex-boyfriend. Berg’s film Hancock, starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman, was one of the highest grossing films of 2008.
Berg directed the Hulu.com commercial featuring Alec Baldwin, which both The New York Times and Time magazine named best spot of Super Bowl XLIII.[12] In 2009, Berg directed a two-hour pilot movie for a Fox television series Virtuality. Even though the show was not picked up for a full season, the pilot was released on DVD exclusively through Best Buy. Berg also directed the ESPNdocumentary "Kings Ransom" in 2009. Berg also wrote the film The Losers(2010).
Berg also directed the science-fiction/action film Battleship (2012) and the war film Lone Survivor (2013), an adaptation of Marcus Lutrell's book of the same name.[13] Variety writer Justin Chang said Berg delivered "his most serious-minded work to date with Lone Survivor."[14] Berg is developing a sequel to Hancock and producing a live-action version of the graphic novel Hercules: The Thracian Wars.[15]
In 2013, Berg created the opening animation sequence for ESPN's Monday Night Football. The 80-second graphic featured Darth Vader (from Star Wars), Pac-Man, President Ronald Reagan and some highlights of MNF games from 1970-2012. In 2014, he directed the first two episodes of HBO's The Leftovers.
In 2016, Berg directed the film Deepwater Horizon, based on the Deepwater Horizon explosion. Berg replaced director J. C. Chandor, who had exited the film due to creative differences.[16] That same year, he directed CBS Films' Patriots Day, about the Boston Marathon bombing. Mark Wahlberg starred in both films.[17]
In 2017, Berg was asked to direct an ambitious commercial for Hyundai, recorded after the kickoff of Super Bowl LI and aired right after the game.[18]
== Personal life ==
In 1993, Berg was married to Elizabeth Rogers, an agent for Calvin Klein; they divorced in 1998.[19][20] He had two children with her.
On July 15, 2015, Berg criticized ESPN's decision to honor Caitlyn Jenner with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award with an Instagram post in which he shared a Facebook photo of Army veteran Gregory D. Gadson (a double amputee who played a role in Berg’s Battleship film) alongside one of Jenner. It said: “One Man traded 2 legs for the freedom of the other to trade 2 balls for 2 boobs. Guess which Man made the cover of Vanity Fair, was praised for his courage by President Obama and is to be honored with the ‘Arthur Ashe Courage Award’ by ESPN?” Along with the shared post, Berg commented, "Yup."[21]
After Berg received significant criticism for the post, he later clarified his remarks, saying he had the utmost respect for Jenner and transgender individuals; however, he released another photo with statistics on veteran suicide, stating, “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 that include the freedom to live the life you want to live without persecution or abuse.”[22]
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Film 	 	 	 	
Year	Film 	Director	Writer	Producer	Notes
1998	Very Bad Things 	Yes 	Yes 	No 	Directorial Debut
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[23] 	Yes 	No 	Yes 	Nominated- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture
Nominated- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director
2013	Lone Survivor 	Yes 	Yes 	Yes 	Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Director
2016	Deepwater Horizon 	Yes 	No 	No 	
2016	Patriots Day 	Yes 	Yes 	No 	
2018	Mile 22 	Yes 	No 	Yes 	
2020	Spenser: Confidential	Yes 	No 	Yes 	
2031	SMG4 	Yes 	No 	Yes 	First film directed by Peter Berg in the 2030s decade
==== Producer only ====
Year	Film 	Notes
2006	Pu-239 	
2007	Lars and the Real Girl	Executive producer
2016	Hell or High Water 	
2017	Wind River 	
==== Acting roles ====
Year	Title 	 	
Year	Title 	Role 	Note
1988	Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story	Bobby 	
1989	Never on Tuesday 	Eddie 	
1989	Miracle Mile 	Band Member 	
1989	Race For Glory 	Chris Washburn 	
1989	Shocker 	Jonathan Parker 	
1989	Heart of Dixie 	Jenks 	
1989	Tale of Two Sisters 	Gardner 	
1989	Going Overboard 	Mort Ginsberg 	as Pete Berg
1990	Genuine Risk 	Henry 	
1990	Forradalom után 	 	
1991	Late for Dinner 	Frank Lovegren 	
1991	Crooked Hearts 	Tom 	
1992	A Midnight Clear 	Bud Miller 	
1993	A Case for Murder 	Jack Hemmet 	
1993	Fire in the Sky 	David Whitlock 	
1993	Aspen Extreme 	Dexter Rutecki 	
1994	Across the Moon 	Lyle 	
1994	Uneviled 	Drug dealer 	
1994	F.T.W. 	Clem Stuart 	
1994	The Last Seduction 	Mike Swale 	
1994	Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story 	Dennis Byrd 	
1995	Heavyweights 	Chef (uncredited) 	
1996	The Great White Hype 	Terry Conklin 	
1996	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 	
2007	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 	Uncredited
2015	Trophy Kids 	Himself 	Documentary
2016	Deepwater Horizon 	Mr. Skip 	as Pete Berg
2018	Mile 22 	Lucas 	as Pete Berg
=== TV ===
Year 	Film 	 	 	 	
Year 	Film 	Director	Writer	Producer 	Notes
1994 & 1997	Chicago Hope 	Yes 	Yes 	No 	Episodes:
* "Colonel of Truth";
* "Quiet Riot" (as Peter W. Berg)
2000 	Wonderland 	Yes 	Yes 	Executive	Creator;
Episode:
* "Pilot"
2006 	Friday Night Lights 	Yes 	Yes 	executive	Creator;
Episodes:
* "Pilot";
* "East of Dillon"
2009 	30 for 30 	Yes 	No 	Yes 	Episode:
* "Kings Ransom"
2009 	Virtuality 	Yes 	No 	executive	TV movie
2009 	Trauma (U.S. TV series)	No 	No 	executive	
2011 	Prime Suspect 	Yes 	No 	executive	Episode:
* Pilot
2014 	The Leftovers 	Yes 	No 	executive	Episodes:
* "Pilot";
* "Penguin One, Us Zero"
2015 	Ballers 	Yes 	No 	executive	Episode:
* "Pilot"
TBA 	The Green Beret’s Guide
to Surviving the Apocalypse''	No 	No 	executive	
==== Acting roles ====
Year 	Title 	 	
Year 	Title 	Role 	Note
1988 	21 Jump Street 	Jerome Sawyer 	Episode:
* "Champagne High"
1995 	Fallen Angels 	 	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"
2002 	Alias 	Agent Noah Hicks 	Episode:
* "Snowman"
* "Masquerade"
2007 	Friday Night Lights	Morris "Mo" MacArnold	Episode:
* "May The Best Man Win"
2008 	Entourage 	Himself 	Season 5 and Season 7
2012 	Californication 	Himself 	Episode:
* "The Way of the Fist"
2014 	The Leftovers 	Pete 	
2017 	Ballers 	Dolphins Coach 	7 episodes
== Awards and nominations ==
Year	Award 	Category 	Film 	Result
1996	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 	Chicago Hope 	Nominated
1997	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 	Chicago Hope 	Nominated
1998	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 	Chicago Hope 	Nominated
1998	Deauville American Film Festival Award 	Fun Radio Trophy 	Very Bad Things 	Won
1998	Deauville American Film Festival Award 	Grand Special Prize 	Very Bad Things 	Nominated
1998	San Sebastián International Film Festival Award	Golden Seashell 	Very Bad Things 	Nominated
2005	AFI Award 	Movie of the Year 	Friday Night Lights	Won
2005	ESPY Award 	Best Sports Movie 	Friday Night Lights	Won
2005	Teen Choice Award 	Choice Movie: Drama 	Friday Night Lights	Nominated
2005	USC Scripter Award 	Best Film Shared with Buzz Bissinger and David Aaron Cohen 	Friday Night Lights	Nominated
2005	Young Artist Award 	Best Family Feature Film - Drama 	Friday Night Lights	Nominated
2007	Primetime Emmy Award 	Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series 	Friday Night Lights	Nominated
2007	Writers Guild of America 	Best New Series Shared with Bridget Carpenter, Kerry Ehrin, Carter Harris, Liz Heldens, David Hudgins, Jason Katims, Patrick Massett, Andy Miller, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and John Zinman	Friday Night Lights	Nominated
2008	Golden Eagle Award 	Best Foreign Film 	Hancock 	Nominated
2011	Primetime Emmy Award 	Outstanding Drama Series 	Friday Night Lights	Nominated
2013	Golden Raspberry Award 	Worst Director 	Battleship 	Nominated
2013	Golden Raspberry Award 	Worst Picture 	Battleship 	Nominated
2013	Golden Trailer Award 	Best Summer Blockbuster 2012 TV Spot 	Battleship 	Nominated
2013	Houston Film Critics Society Award 	Worst Film 	Battleship 	Nominated
2013	Satellite Award 	Best Adapted Screenplay 	Lone Survivor 	Nominated
2014	Writers Guild of America Award 	Best Adapted Screenplay 	Lone Survivor 	Nominated
2014	Saturn Award 	Best Director 	Lone Survivor 	Nominated