Peter Berg

Peter Berg (born March 11, 1964)

Early life Berg was born on March 11, 1964 a US Marine, and Sally (née Winkler) Berg. Berg's father was Jewish, as was his maternal grandfather. His mother was Christian.

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. 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. He has a younger sister, Mary.

Peter was a student in the Chappaqua School System. After graduating from The Taft School in 1980, Berg attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he majored in theater arts and theater history and graduated in 1984. Berg later moved to Los Angeles to pursue his film career. Berg acted in 21 Jump Street He acted in Genuine Risk in 1990 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 reviews.

In 2000, he created ABC’s Wonderland, dramatic television series set in a psychiatric emergency room. The show failed to deliver ratings and was canceled after the second episode had aired.

In 2004, Berg directed Friday Night Lights, a football film based on The New York Times bestseller written by Buzz Bissinger.

In 2006, Berg was an executive producer of NBC's Peabody and Emmy Award-winning drama 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.

Berg appeared alongside Tom Cruise in the Robert Redford directed war film Lions for Lambs (2007) as Lt. Colonel Falco. Berg followed up in 2007 with directing The Kingdom, a Michael Mann-produced action-political thriller set in Saudi Arabia, starring Jamie Foxx and Chris Cooper, also with Jennifer Garner whom Berg met when he appeared on the television series Alias.

Berg directed the 2008 film Hancock, starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman, that grossed over $600,000,000 million worldwide.

Berg directed a Hulu commercial featuring Alec Baldwin, which both The New York Times and Time named best spot of Super Bowl XLIII. In 2009, Berg directed a two-hour pilot movie for the 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 ESPN documentary 30 for 30: Kings Ransom in 2009. Berg also co-wrote the film The Losers (2010).

Berg also directed the science-fiction action film Battleship (2012), a live-action adaptation of the board game which became one of the biggest flops of all time, and the war film Lone Survivor (2013), an adaptation of Marcus Lutrell's book of the same name. Variety writer Justin Chang said Berg delivered "his most serious-minded work to date with Lone Survivor." The following year, Berg acted as producer on the 2014 film Hercules, which he was originally slated to direct before being replaced by Brett Ratner.

In 2013, Berg created the opening animation sequence for ESPN's Monday Night Football, the 80-second graphic featured Darth Vader, Pac-Man, President Ronald Reagan and football highlights of 44 years.

In 2014, he directed the first two episodes of HBO's The Leftovers.

In 2015, Berg launched the nonfiction studio Film 45 to complement his fiction studio Film 44.

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. That same year, he directed CBS Films' Patriots Day, about the Boston Marathon bombing, and the following year directed the action thriller Mile 22. All three films starred Mark Wahlberg.

In 2017, Berg directed a Hyundai commercial which was recorded after the kickoff of Super Bowl LI and aired right after the game. His Film 44 company was recently signed to a first look deal with Netflix, which saw the release of his most recent film Spenser Confidential, the director's fifth collaboration with Wahlberg.

In 2019, Berg directed a commercial for the National Football League, "...football fans witnessed another milestone moment with the premiere of the NFL's Super Bowl commercial entitled The 100-Year Game. The two minute ad, which kicked off the celebration of the NFL's 100th season garnered the No. 1 spot in USA Todays Ad Meter with the publication describing it as "a tour de force starring an assemblage of many of the greats of NFL history."

In 2024, Berg announced he was working on a film based on the book The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II. The Mosquito Bowl is set to release on Netflix in 2026.

In October 2025, Paramount Pictures announced that Berg had been attached to direct a live-action adaptation of Call of Duty (2028).

Personal life In 1993, Berg was married to Elizabeth Rogers; they have one child and divorced in 1998.

In July 2015, Berg criticized ESPN's decision to honor Caitlyn Jenner with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award by sharing his opinion on Instagram, where he posted a Facebook photo of Army veteran and double amputee Gregory D. Gadson alongside one of Jenner. The meme's caption 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?" 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--principals that include the freedom to live the life you want to live without persecution or abuse."

Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 1998 Very Bad Things Also composer ("Walls Come Down") 2003 The Rundown 2004 Friday Night Lights 2007 The Kingdom 2008 Hancock 2010 The Losers 2012 Battleship 2013 Lone Survivor 2016 Deepwater Horizon Patriots Day 2018 Mile 22 2020 Spenser Confidential 2026 The Mosquito Bowl Upcoming film

Executive producer Pu-239 (2006) Lars and the Real Girl (2007) Hercules (2014)Producer only Hell or High Water (2016) Wind River (2017) The Beast (2026)

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 MateUncredited 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

Television Year Title Director Executiveproducer Writer Notes 1994–1997 Chicago Hope Episodes "Colonel of Truth" and "Quiet Riot"(as Peter W. Berg) 2000 Wonderland Creator,Episode "Pilot" 2006–2011 Friday Night Lights Creator,Episodes "Pilot" and "East of Dillon" 2009 30 for 30 Episode "Kings Ransom", Also producer Virtuality TV movie 2009–2010 Trauma 2011–2012 Prime Suspect Episode "Pilot" 2014–2017 The Leftovers Episodes "Pilot" and "Penguin One, Us Zero" 2015–2019 Ballers Episode "Pilot" 2018 The People's Fighters:Teofilo Stevenson and the Legend of Cuban Boxing Documentary film, also narrator 2019–2020 Dare Me 2021 McCartney 3,2,1 Documentary series 2022 Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons 3 episodes,Documentary series 2023 Painkiller 2024 God Save Texas Documentary series 2025 American Primeval TBA The Green Beret's Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse

Acting roles

Music video

As director Year Title Artist 2003 "Addicted" Enrique Iglesias 2008 "Keeps Gettin' Better" Christina Aguilera 2012 "One More Night" Maroon 5 2014 "Maps"

Guest appearances Year Title Artist(s) Role 1993 "Leaving Las Vegas" Sheryl Crow Driver 2026 "Do Me Right" Mr. Fantasy Himself

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Film Result 1996 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Chicago Hope 1997 1998 Deauville American Film Festival Award Fun Radio Trophy Very Bad Things Grand Special Prize San Sebastián International Film Festival Award Golden Seashell 2005 AFI Award Movie of the Year Friday Night Lights ESPY Award Best Sports Movie Teen Choice Award Choice Movie: Drama USC Scripter Award Best Film(Shared with Buzz Bissinger and David Aaron Cohen) Young Artist Award Best Family Feature Film – Drama 2007 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series 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, John Zinman) 2008 Golden Eagle Award Best Foreign Film Hancock 2011 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Drama Series Friday Night Lights 2013 Golden Raspberry Award Worst Director Battleship Worst Picture Golden Trailer Award Best Summer Blockbuster 2012 TV Spot Houston Film Critics Society Award Worst Film Satellite Award Best Adapted Screenplay Lone Survivor 2014 Writers Guild of America Award Best Adapted Screenplay Saturn Award Best Director