Peter Markle has had a prolific career in both features and television. His television credits include "Flight 93" which garnered the largest audience in A&E network's history, with over 35 million viewers since its debut. The show received six Emmy nominations, including Best Director, and won the writing award for Best Movie or Miniseries. The New York Times praised the show, stating it is "gripping from the very first scene."
Markle also wrote and directed "Faith of My Fathers" for A&E, starring Shawn Hatosy and Scott Glenn, based on John McCain's book about his capture and incarceration during the Vietnam War. The show received four Emmy nominations. He directed "Nightbreaker" for TNT, starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, about nuclear testing in the 1950s and its consequences for the "guinea pig" soldiers. The show received five ACE award nominations, including Best Director. Variety praised the show, calling it "a searing look at atomic gambling and military cynicism that's stunningly effective as a drama."
Markle's other television credits include directing numerous episodes of hit shows such as "The X-Files," "CSI," "Without a Trace," "Life," "NYPD Blue," "Burn Notice," "Rescue Me," "ER," and "Homicide."
In features, Markle wrote and directed "The Personals" for New World Pictures, a romantic comedy that won Best First Feature at the Houston Film Festival. It debuted at the Deauville Film Festival in France and was made on a budget of $250,000, grossing $1.5 million. The Los Angeles Times praised the film, stating it "observes contemporary relationships between young adults with wit and perception, but most importantly, with taste and a lightness of touch often absent from Hollywood counterparts."
Markle's second feature, "Hot Dog, The Movie," was made on a budget of $1.8 million and grossed over $21 million domestically for MGM. It became a cult classic. His third film, "Youngblood," inspired by his experience playing ice hockey professionally and three years on the US National team, starred Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze. It was made on a budget of $4.1 million and grossed $15.5 million domestically.
Markle also directed Gene Hackman and Danny Glover in "BAT 21" for Tri-Star, based on a true story, which made several top ten films of the year lists. The film won the Crystal Heart at the Heartland International Children's Film Festival and the Children's Jury prize as best film at India's International Film Festival, the largest children's festival in the world.
His other feature credits include "Virginia's Run," which won the Crystal Heart at the Heartland International Children's Film Festival and premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, and "The Last Days of Frankie the Fly," which premiered on HBO and starred Dennis Hopper, Kiefer Sutherland, Daryl Hannah, and Michael Madsen.
