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William Petersen
as Gil Grissom

William Petersen - CSI

Birth Name: William Louis Petersen

Birthday: Feb. 21, 1953

Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois

Where he grew up: Evanston and Idaho

Where he lives now: Los Angeles

Family: Married to Gina Cirone, June 14, 2003
Daughter: Maite (born 1975).
Grandson: Mazrik William (born October 2003).

Height: 5 feet, 10 inches

Nickname: Billy

Pets: Bruno the dog

William Petersen's bio:
William Petersen television credits include the films "Long Gone," "The Rat Pack," "The Kennedy's of Massachusetts," which won a Golden Globe Award, "The Beast" and "Keep the Change." Petersen also serves as executive producer on CSI and was nominated in 2003 for a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Gil Grissom, the lead investigator.

His feature film credits include "To Live and Die in L.A.," "Manhunter," "Cousins," "Young Guns II," "Fear," "Hard Promises," which he also produced, and "The Contender."

Petersen made his Broadway debut in a revival of Tennessee Williams' "The Night of the Iguana." In 1979, he founded the Remains Theater Ensemble in Chicago with a group of fellow actors. He has appeared in a number of regional stage productions, including "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Time of Your Life," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "Fool for Love" and "Speed-the-Plow."

Petersen discovered acting while on a football scholarship at Idaho State University. He later studied acting in Spain.

He lives in Los Angeles.















CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Non-acting careers: football player
01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI

William Petersen's movies:
  • Gov. Jack Hathaway in the movie "The Contender." (2000)
  • Ames Levritt in "The Skulls" (2000)
  • Jeff in "Kiss the Sky" (1999)
  • Jake Bridges in "Gunshy" (1998)
  • Jack in "Mulholland Falls" (1996)
  • Steve Walker in "Fear" (1996)
  • Tony C. in "In the Kingdom of the Blind" (1995)
  • Stephen Guerin in "Curacao" (1993)
  • Frank Scanlan in "Passed Away" (1992)
  • Joey in "Hard Promises" (1991)
  • Patrick Floyd 'Pat' Garrett in "Young Guns II" (1990)
  • Tom Hardy in "Cousins" (1989)
  • Cecil 'Stud' Cantrell in "Long Gone" (1987)
  • Russell in "Amazing Grace and Chuck" (1987)
  • Will Graham in "Manhunter" (1986)
  • Richard Chance in "To Live and Die in L.A." (1985)
  • Katz & Jammer Bartender in "Thief" (1981)

01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI

TV shows:
  • Gil Grissom in "CSI" (2000 - Present)
  • Jackson Connolly in "Haven" (2001)
  • John F. Kennedy in "The Rat Pack" (1998)
  • Joad in "The Staircase" (1998)
  • Juror #12 in "12 Angry Men" (1997)
  • Whip Dalton in "The Beast" (1996)
  • George in "Fallen Angels - Good Housekeeping" (1995)
  • Jack in "Present Tense, Past Perfect" (1995)
  • Gideon Walker in "Return to Lonesome Dove" (1993 miniseries)
  • Joe Starling in "Keep the Change" (1992)
  • Joseph P. Kennedy in "The Kennedys of Massachusetts" (1990)
  • Edward Sayers in "The Twilight Zone - Need to Know/Red Snow" (1986)

01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI

Stage:
  • John Plunkett in "A Dublin Carol" at Trinity Rep (2006)
  • Ted in "Flyovers" at Victory Gardens (1998)
  • Reverend T. Shannon in "Night of the Iguana" at Roundabout Theater (1996)
  • Reverend T. Shannon in "Night of the Iguana" at Goodman Theater (1993)
  • "The Chicago Conspiracy Trial" at Remains (1992)
  • "Once in Doubt" at Remains (1992)
  • Teach in "American Buffalo" at Remains (1991)
  • Bobby Gould in "Speed the Plow" at Wisdom Bridge Theater (1989)
  • "Big Time" at Remains (1987)
  • Matti in "Puntila and His Hired Man" at Organic Theater (1986)
  • "Days and Nights Within" at Organic Theater (1986)
  • "The Belly of the Beast" at Wisdom Bridge Theater (1984)
  • James Lingk in "Glengarry Glen Ross" at Goodman Theater (1984)
  • Joe in "The Time of Your Life" at Goodman Theater (1984)
  • "A Class "C" Trial in Yokahama." Chicago Theater Project with Remains (1984)
  • "Gardenia" at Goodman Theater (1984)
  • Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire" at Stratford (1984)
  • Eddie in "Fool for Love" at Steppenwolf (1982)
  • Ahab in "Moby Dick" at Remains (1982)
  • Hoss in "Tooth of Crime" at Remains (1982)
  • Joe Conroy in "Balm in Gilead" Remains at Steppenwolf
  • "Sixty Six Scenes of Halloween" at Remains Theater
  • "Cantile of the Sun" at Wisdom Bridge Theater
  • "Dillinger" at Victory Gardens Theater (1979)

01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI01. William Petersen - CSI
Audio Book
  • Hear William Petersen reading an excerpt from "The Black Ice" by Michael Connelly.
  • Owns the rights of James Ellroy's crime novel "Clandestine"

William Petersen's big break:

Best known for:

Awards:

Upcoming projects:

Memorable quotes (on/off the set)
William Petersen - CSI"If I'd stayed a football player, my career would have been over 20 years ago. As it is, my knees are shot. I found I got the same good feeling in acting as I had in sports, but I found I could have a more profound impact on people."
- William Petersen
"Sure, I always chose rebels to identify with - I still do - but to me a rebel isn't so much someone who breaks the law as someone who goes against the odds."
- William Petersen
"Basically, we are a whole world of people desperately trying to figure out what is the dark side of our natures and how much can we explore without becoming something else."
- William Petersen
01. William Petersen - CSI

Hannibal Lecktor: ... how did you catch me?
Will Graham: You had disadvantages.
Hannibal Lecktor: What disadvantages?
Will Graham: You're insane.
- 'Manhunter'
"It's just you and me now, sport." - Will Graham 'Manhunter'
Freddy Lounds (Reporter): How does working on this case affect your sex life?
Will Graham: Mine? It doesn't affect mine, it affects yours. Go F*@k yourself!
- 'Manhunter'

When he's not acting
01. William Petersen - CSIHuge sports fan, especially the Chicago Cubs.


(See Billy singing at a Cubs game here!)

 01. William Petersen - CSI
He likes to play golf.


Fascinating Facts
01. William Petersen - CSI
Because his role in Manhunter was so emotionally exhausting, he did everything he could to rid himself of the character Will Graham after he finished shooting. He shaved off his beard, cut and dyed his hair blond.





An actor and his dog...
01. William Petersen - CSI



Best feature(s): The eyes...
01. William Petersen - CSI







<< Back to CSI Cast
    Dublin Carol (Billy's most recent play):
    Advertisement for "A Dublin Carol"

    Review of Dublin Carol: The Providence Journal, December 7, 2006:
    William Petersen (right) in "Dublin Carol" at Trinity Rep., Providence, RI
    'Dublin Carol' review, part 1 of 3
    'Dublin Carol' review, part 2 of 3
    'Dublin Carol' review part 3 of 3

    Check out this information for 2008
    click here: Upcoming play - fall 2008

    Does Grissom Have His Eye on Howie's Job?
    "Hey! I want all those babes like Howie has!"Quotation from Article Cited Below

    Excerpt from Bound for home: Chicago’s William Petersen looks beyond ‘CSI’ to a return to the stage, originally posted September 20, 2006 by Maureen Ryan, The Watcher, A Chicago Tribune Web Log. Entire interview available here.