Peter Berg

Berg in 2012, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Peter Winkler Berg

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 11, 1962

Ethnicity:
*75% Ashkenazi Jewish
*25% German

Peter Berg is an American actor, film director, producer, and writer. He is the son of Sally Ann (Winkler) and Laurence Gillen Berg. He has two children with his former wife, agent Elizabeth Rogers.

Peter’s father was Jewish, as was Peter’s maternal grandfather. It appears that Peter’s maternal grandmother was Catholic.

Peter is a second cousin of writer Buzz Bissinger (who is Jewish). Peter’s maternal great-grandparents, Eli Winkler and Selma Louise Einstein, were also the parents of Buzz’s paternal grandmother, Gertrude Louise Winkler. Peter is also a fifth cousin, three times removed, of theoretical physicist Albert Einstein. Peter’s maternal seven times great-grandfather, Moyses Einstein, was also Albert’s paternal four times great-grandfather.

Peter’s paternal grandfather was Harry William Berg (the son of Simon Berg and Rose Berliner). Harry was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents. Simon was born in Kiev, the son of Henry Berg.

Peter’s paternal grandmother was named Ruth Gillen. Ruth was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents.

Peter’s maternal grandfather was Robert Eli Winkler (the son of Eli Winkler and Selma Louise Einstein). Robert was born in Ohio. Peter’s great-grandfather Eli was born in Ohio, to Isaac Winkler and Bertha Hess, and was of German Jewish and Austrian Jewish descent. Peter’s great-grandmother Selma was born in Ohio, to German Jewish parents, Leopold Einstein, from Buchau, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Bertha F. Rauh, from Bavaria.

Peter’s maternal grandmother was named Elizabeth A. Grieme. Elizabeth was born in Ohio.

Sources: Genealogy of Peter Berg –

Peter’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census –

Genealogy of Peter’s maternal grandfather, Robert Eli Winkler (focusing on his own mother’s side) –

Peter’s maternal grandfather, Robert Eli Winkler, on the 1930 U.S. Census –

Obituaries of Peter’s maternal grandfather, Robert Eli Winkler –

Obituary of Peter’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth G. Winkler –