Peter Winkler Berg was born on the 11th March 1962, in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor, probably best known for starring in “Chicago Hope”(1995–1999), “Very Bad Things” (1998), “The Leftovers” (2014), among others, over 40 TV and film titles in all. He is a film director as well. He has been an active member of the entertainment industry since 1988.
Have you ever wondered how rich Peter Berg is, as of early 2016? According to sources, it is estimated that Peter’s net worth is $30 million, with the main source of this amount his successful involvement in the film industry.
Peter Berg Net Worth $30 Million
Peter Berg was raised with younger sister by Sally and Laurence G. Berg; the second cousin of H. G. Bissinger, who wrote the book “Friday Night Lights”, which became the basis of his future TV series project of the same name. He went to The Taft School, from which he matriculated in 1980. Then, he continued his education enrolling at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he majored in Theater Arts and History, graduating in 1984. Just a year later decided to move to Los Angeles, California, to pursue his career in the film industry, not only as an actor, but subsequently also as a film director and producer.
Three years after he moved to Los Angeles, Peter was cast in the cameo role of John Sawyer in the TV series “21 Jump Street” (1988), which was soon followed by another cameo appearance, this time in the TV series “Ohara”, the same year. By the 1990s, his career took off, as he earned roles in such productions as “Never on Tuesday” (1989), “Hear of Dixie” (1989), and “Shocker” (1989), among others, all of which increased his net worth, and also popularity.
In the 1990s, he emerged as a talented actor, which helped him to land a few notable roles, including the one of Dr. Billy Kronk in the TV series “Chicago Hope” (1995-1999), then the role of Joey Randone in the film “Cop Land” (1997) with Sylvester Stalone and Ray Liotta, and “Rise And Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story” (1994) in which he portrayed Dennis Byrd. Furthermore, he was featured in films “The Last Seduction” (1994), and “Fire In The Sky” (1993), among others, all of which added to his net worth.
In the 2000s, he continued to line up success after success, firstly portraying Paulie Romano in the film “Corky Romano” (2001), then assuming the role of Richard Weidner in the film “Collateral” (2004), with Tom Cruise and Jada Pinkett Smith. Two years later, he featured in the film “Smokin` Aces” with actors including Ryan Reynolds and Jeremy Piven. To speak further of his accomplishments as actor, Peter has appeared in productions such as “Lions For Lambs” (2007), “Ballers” (2015), and “Breakthrough” (2015), among others.
Apart from his successful career as an actor, Peter is also known as a director and producer, which has also increased his net worth. His debut as a director was the 1998 film “Very Bad Things”, featuring actors Christian Slater, and Cameron Diaz. However, his breakthrough came in 2004, with the film “Friday Night Lights”, and since then he has put his name to films and TV series such as “Hancock” (2008), “Battleship” (2012), “Lone Survivor” (2013), and “Patriots Day”, which will be released in 2016.
As a producer, Peter has put his name to such productions as “Friday Night Lights” (2006-2011), “Hercules” (2014), “The Leftovers” (2014-2015), “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny” (2016), and most recently “Wind River”, which will be released in (2017).
Thanks to his successful career, Peter has received several prestigious nominations, and awards, including the AFI Award for Best Movie of the year for “Friday Night Lights”, and Deauville American Film Festival Award Fun Radio Trophy for his film “Very Bad Things”, among others.
Regarding his personal life, Peter Berg was married to Elizabeth Rogers from 1993 to 2002. They have a son together, named Emmett Berg, who is also an actor. He is a strong supporter of veterans, particularly those wounded in combat.
Deauville American Film Festival Award (1998), ESPY Award (2005), AFI Award (2005)
Nominations
Screen Actors Guild Award (1997), Primetime Emmy Award (2005), Primetime Emmy Award (2007), Satellite Award (2013),Golden Raspberry Award (2011), Saturn Award (2014)
Movies
“Friday Night Lights” (2004), “Hercules” (2014), “Hancock” (2008), “Battleship” (2012), “Lone Survivor” (2013), “The Leftovers” (2014-2015), “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny” (2016), “Wind River” (2017)
[re beginnings in college theater] It was a family thing, and there were hot girls...For some reason I fit in. I'm not sure why. I guess I was intrigued as much by misfits as by heroes...I love actors. I'm empathetic to them. I understand what they go through. But I didn't want to be an actor.
2
[re 'Battleship (2012)] I couldn't say no to that challenge. I felt I had a new understanding of what went into making a blockbuster. I got a taste of a film's global power. But I discounted the effect of Will Smith on _Hancock (20100_'s success. I thought I could pull off Battleship (2012) without a big star...[Though] the perception wasn't that Peter Berg screwed up.Where do you go to buy back your reputation when you lose it?
3
[re making Lone Survivor (2013)] I'm a patriot. I admire our military, their character, code of honor, belief systems. I lived with the SEALs, their families, went to their funerals. I went to Iraq. Did you ever see anyone killed? I did.
4
[re his prep school years, and learning to box] I was on fire,a seething ball of energy moving at a speed I couldn't explain...and diagnosed as a troublemaker. Today it'd be A.D.H.D., and I'd be Ritalined up...You can't box angry. You have to be disciplined. Before boxing, I was this angry kid ready to fight if someone said, 'Hello.'
Peter is a fifth cousin, three times removed, of theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, through Peter's maternal grandfather, Robert Eli Winkler. Peter's seven times maternal great-grandfather, Moyses Einstein, was also Albert's four times paternal great-grandfather.
4
His paternal grandparents were from Russian Jewish immigrant families. His maternal grandfather was of German Jewish and Austrian Jewish descent.
5
Has a director's cameo in Lone Survivor (2013) (before Shane Patton's speech).
6
Berg remembers his father as 'a hard-assed ex-Marine" and who later became an executive for Grey Advertising, commuting to New York City and drinking martins at lunch-- the very model of a Mad Men (2007) -type character.
7
Still works out by boxing which he's loved since he was a 14-year-old freshman at Connecticut's private Taft School.
8
He was embedded with SEAL Team Five for nearly a month in March 2009 while preparing to make his upcoming movie, Lone Survivor (2013), based on the book by Marcus Luttrell. Embedded journalists typically live with military units while covering armed conflicts.
Has a son, Emmett Berg (born in November 1999), with ex-wife, Elizabeth Rogers.
11
Visited Saudi Arabia for two weeks in research for The Kingdom (2007).
12
Guest Speaker at Macalester College Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2008.
13
His mother co-founded a youth group named "Catalog for Giving" and worked at a psychiatric hospital, when Berg and his younger sister, Mary Berg, were growing up.
14
Guest-starred in a two part Alias (2001), episode where he played Jennifer Garner's ex-boyfriend. Based on this experience, he decided to cast and direct her in The Kingdom (2007).
15
One of 115 people invited to join AMPAS in 2007.
16
His best friend and roommate from Macalester College, is his agent, Ari Emanuel, inspiration for Entourage (2004)'s "Ari Gold".
17
He and three others were ambushed and robbed in the Brazilian jungle while doing research for The Rundown (2003). They were held for 15 minutes and lost cash and a laptop computer. Nobody was injured.
18
Attended the Guthrie Theater Drama School, Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
19
Moved to Los Angeles in 1985.
20
Appeared in local theater productions while attending college in Minnesota.
21
Is a second cousin of writer Buzz Bissinger, who wrote the book Friday Night Lights (Peter later directed the film based on the book). Buzz's paternal grandmother, Gertrude Louise Winkler, and Peter's maternal grandfather, Robert Eli Winkler, were siblings.
22
Peter grew up in Chappaqua, New York and attended a private high school in Watertown, Connecticut.
23
Worked as Domino's delivery boy while at Macalaster.
24
Attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.
25
Worked as a dock worker in San Pedro, California prior to getting his "big break".
$30 Million
