Peter Berg Biography

PETER BERG

Date of Birth: March 11, 1964

Growing up near New York City, Peter Berg was taken by his parents twice a month to see Broadway shows. These outings inspired him to get involved in the theater and he went on to study drama at Macalester College in Minneapolis. After graduation Berg moved to California where he took a job as a dock worker before making his movie debut playing a band member in Miracle Mile (1988), followed by a larger role in the TV movie Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wiedermeyer Story (1988) and a starring role in the independent film Never on Tuesday (1988). Other highlights of his acting career include starring opposite Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction (1994) and playing Dr. Billy Kronk for four seasons on CBS-TV's hit series Chicago Hope.

Berg made his writing and directing debut with Chicago Hope, then wrote and directed the feature film Very Bad Things (1998), starring Cameron Diaz. He won the Fun Radio Trophy at the Deauville Film Festival for his work on the film, then signed on as a writer/director for ABC-TV's new drama series Wonderland (2000). Returning to feature films, The Rundown (2003), gave Berg the opportunity to direct someone else's screenplay. The action adventure stars Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott and Christopher Walken. He directed Friday Night Lights starring Billy Bob Thornton, which was such a big hit that it spawned a TV series of the same name, for which Berg directed the pilot. More recently, he helmed The Kingdom (2007) for the big screen, starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner. In 2012, Berg took on the role of a director for the big blockbuster Battleship based on the popular board game. Berg also played a small role in the film, which also starred Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson and Rihanna in her debut film role.

Berg's acting career is also going strong, having played a recurring role on ABC's hit series Alias and roles in films such as Collateral (2004) and Smokin' Aces (2007). In recent years, he brought the true story of the 2010 Mexican Gulf oil rig explosion in the drama Deepwater Horizon starring Mark Wahlberg and Kate Hudson.

Filmography (director):

Deepwater Horizon (2016)
Lone Survivor (2013)
Battleship (2012)
Hancock (2008)
The Kingdom (2007)
Friday Night Lights (2004)
The Rundown (2003)
Very Bad Things (1998)

Filmography (actor):

Battleship (2012)
Lions for Lambs (2007)
The Kingdom (2007) (uncredited)
Smokin' Aces (2007)
Collateral (2004)
Corky Romano (2001)
Dill Scallion (1999)
Cop Land (1997)
The Great White Hype (1996)
Girl 6 (1996)
Across the Moon (1995)
F.T.W. (1994)
Unveiled (1994)
The Last Seduction (1994)
Fire in the Sky (1993)
Aspen Extreme (1993)
A Midnight Clear (1992)
Late for Dinner (1991)
Crooked Hearts (1991)
Genuine Risk (1990)
Going Overboard (1989)
Tale of Two Sisters (1989)
Race for Glory (1989)
Shocker (1989)
Heart of Dixie (1989)
Never on Tuesday (1988)
Miracle Mile (1988)