The Art Directors Guild announced that Stephen Myles Berger, best known for his work in theme parks around the world and on films such as Sunshine Boys, Basic Instinct and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Set Designers and Model Makers Council at the 24th Annual ADG “Excellence in Production Design” Awards. Berger’s illustrious career spans five decades and has earned him international acclaim. The 2020 ADG Awards will be held at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown in the Wilshire Grand Ballroom on Saturday, February 1, 2020. This is the third of four Lifetime Achievement Awards to be announced by Art Directors Guild.
“Those who have had the chance to work with him enjoy his energy, enthusiasm and skill.”
“Stephen’s artistic abilities have traversed television, film and theme parks for the last half century. Those who have had the chance to work with him enjoy his energy, enthusiasm and skill. We appreciate his years of service as a teacher, a mentor, a trustee in the Guild and are proud to have him as an example of a person who represents the best of the Set Design craft,” said Kristen Davis, ADG Set Designers and Model Makers Council Chair.
Stephen Myles Berger comes from a family of talented entertainment art directors. His father, Ralph Berger, was an RKO Art Director, Desilu television pioneer and a member of the Cinemagundi Club, forerunner of today’s Art Directors Guild. Both Stephen and his brother Richard have been members of the Guild since the early 60s.
His list of television credits reads like the history of the entertainment industry over the past 50 years, including Scandal, Malcolm in the Middle, Desperate Housewives, Wonder Woman, MacGyver, Hawaii Five-O, Spiderman and Serpico. His numerous film credits include The Way We Were, The Adventures of Pipi Longstocking, Silent Movie, The Sunshine Boys and Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
Stephen’s talents transitioned to award winning designs of numerous theme parks around the globe including Universal Studios Theme Parks in Los Angeles, Orlando and Japan; Magic Mountain in California; Motion Gate Theme Park in Dubai; MGM/Disney Studios in Orlando; Sama World Theme Park in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia; and Six Flags Over Mid-America in St. Louis.
He studied at Chouinard Art Institute and University of Southern California. He is a member of the Motion Picture and Television Academies and is currently an ADG trustee.
The ADG Lifetime Achievement Awards are presented to outstanding individuals in each of the guild’s four crafts. As previously announced, Joe Alves will receive the ADG Lifetime Achievement Award from the Art Directors Council and Denis Olsen from the Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists Council. The honoree for the Illustrators and Matte Artists Council will be announced shortly. Previous recipients include: Jeannine Oppewall (2019), Norm Newberry (2018), René Lagler (2017); Jim Fiorito (2019) John Moffitt (2018), Albert Obregon (2017), Bill Anderson (2016); William F. Matthews (2019), James J. Murakami (2018), Cate Bangs (2017); Ed Verreaux (2019), Marty Kline (2018), Joe Musso (2017).
Set Designer Stephen Myles Berger to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2020 ADG Awards Share on X