Peter Berg

Peter Berg, American actor turned director, writer, and producer, is associated with his stint on the medical drama Chicago Hope as well as his directorial projects, most notable the recently completed film The Kingdom.

Peter Winkler Berg was born March 11, 1964 in New York City, New York. His parents were Sally Berg, an employee at a psychiatric hospital and cofounder of Catalog for Giving, and his father, Larry Berg. They had two children, of which Berg was the eldest. He graduated from The Taft School and pursued his secondary education at Macalester College. He emerged with a degree in both theater arts and theater history.

Just a year out of Macalester, Berg moved to Los Angeles. Rather than jump right into auditions, Berg first learned his trade as a production assistant.

Finally ready to make his move as an actor, Berg made his onscreen debut in 1988 with the comedy Never On Tuesday with Claudia Christian and Andrew Lauer. Berg’s acting career for the next several years consisted of one-episode appearances and bit parts in small films. But he received a sizable break in 1991 when he landed a leading part in the drama Crooked Hearts opposite all-star cast Vincent DOnofrio, Noah Wyle, Peter Coyote, Juliette Lewis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Marg Helgenberger, and Joshua Jackson.

Another big break came with the lusty 1994 thriller The Last Seduction. Although Bill Pullman also starred, critics and audiences agreed it was Linda Fiorentino that stole the show.

The exposure, however, helped Berg land his biggest gig to date. In 1995, he auditioned for and won the role of Dr. Billy Kronk in the television series Chicago Hope opposite regulars Adam Arkin, Hector Elizondo, Mark Harmon, and Christine Lahti. He appeared sporadically between 1995 and 1999. In addition to acting in the series, it was also onset that Berg got his feet wet as a writer and director.

1998 really marked a turning point for Berg’s career. It was in this year he truly began seeing himself as a director and writer. The film that inspired this transformation was Very Bad Things with Christian Slater, Jon Favreau, Cameron Diaz, and Jeanne Tripplehorn. He both wrote and directed the movie. He is also lauded for his continued writing, directing, and producing on the popular television series Friday Night Lights.

His most recent directorial endeavor, The Kingdom starring Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, and Chris Cooper, is an intense politically relevant film concerning the Middle East and the United States military.

Berg, however, never gave up acting altogether. Subsequent acting jobs include Michael Mann’s Collateral with Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx as well as Smokin’ Aces with Hollywood powerhouse lineup Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven, Ben Affleck, Matthew Fox, Andy Garcia, and Alicia Keys.

Berg married Elizabeth Rogers in 1993 after many years of dating. Their marriage, however, only lasted until 1996. He also had a four-year relationship with Estella Warren, but they reportedly called it quits spring 2006. Berg welcomed his only child, a son, in 1999.