WP
William Petersen
Actor, Producer
Born February 21, 1953 (69 years)
William Louis Petersen is an American actor and producer, best known for playing Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom on the hit CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Richard Chance in the film To Live and Die in L.A., and Will Graham in the film Manhunter. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Petersen attended Idaho State University on a football scholarship, where he first tried acting and immediately joined the drama department, before leaving to work in the Basque country as a Shakespearean actor. Peterson embraced the Basque lifestyle, influencing his work, family and art. He went on to perform with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company before his breakthrough role in the 1985 action film To Live and Die in L.A. Peterson’s success was immediate, landing him the role as Will Graham in the first adaptation of Michael Mann’s Hannibal Lecter series. His film and television success includes numerous crime dramas and thrillers, providing him the perfect background for his decade-long role as Dr. Gil Grissom in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation before returning to the stage. On February 3, 2009, Petersen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Filmography
| 2021 | CSI: Vegas (TV Series) · as Gil Grissom |
| 2015 | CSI: Immortality · as Gil Grissom |
| 2014 | Manhattan (TV Series) · as Col. Emmett Darrow |
| 2012 | Seeking a Friend for the End of the World · as Trucker |
| 2011 | Detachment · as Mr. Sarge Kepler |
| 2004 | Just the Facts · as Cast of 'C.S.I.' |
| 2002 | Without a Trace (TV Series) · as Gil Grissom |
| 2001 | Haven · as Jackson Connolly |
| 2000 | The Contender · as Jack Hathaway |
| 2000 | The Skulls · as Ames Levritt |
| 2000 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) · as Gil Grissom (uncredited) |
| 1998 | The Rat Pack · as John F. Kennedy |
| 1998 | Kiss the Sky · as Jess |
| 1998 | The Staircase · as Joad |
| 1998 | Gunshy · as Jake Bridges |
| 1997 | 12 Angry Men · as Juror 12 |
| 1997 | The Directors (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1996 | Fear · as Steve Walker |
| 1996 | Mulholland Falls · as Jack Flynn |
| 1996 | The Beast (1996) (TV Series) · as Whip Dalton |
| 1995 | |
| 1993 | CIA: Exiled · as Stephen Guerin |
| 1993 | Return to Lonesome Dove (TV Series) · as Captain Gideon Walker |
| 1992 | Passed Away · as Frank Scanlan |
| 1992 | Keep the Change · as Joe Starling |
| 1991 | Hard Promises · as Joey |
| 1990 | Young Guns II · as Patrick Floyd 'Pat' Garrett |
| 1989 | Cousins · as Tom Hardy |
| 1987 | Amazing Grace and Chuck · as Russell (as William L. Petersen) |
| 1986 | Manhunter · as Will Graham |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone (1985) (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1985 | To Live and Die in L.A. · as Richard Chance |
| 1981 | Thief · as Katz & Jammer Bartender |