William Petersen

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

46

Gender

Male

Birthday

1953-02-21 (72 years old)

Place of Birth

Evanston, Illinois, USA

William Petersen

Biography

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.

Known For

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

  • Without a Trace

    Without a Trace

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • Sacrée Soirée

    Sacrée Soirée

  • CSI: Vegas

    CSI: Vegas

  • Curaçao

    Curaçao

  • Fear

    Fear

  • Fallen Angels

    Fallen Angels

  • Passed Away

    Passed Away

  • Gunshy

    Gunshy

  • Manhattan

    Manhattan

  • Long Gone

    Long Gone

  • Haven

    Haven

  • This Old Cub

    This Old Cub

  • Return to Lonesome Dove

    Return to Lonesome Dove

  • Blue

    Blue

  • Detachment

    Detachment

  • The Directors

    The Directors

  • Cousins

    Cousins

  • Kiss the Sky

    Kiss the Sky

  • The Beast

    The Beast

  • Young Guns II

    Young Guns II

  • 12 Angry Men

    12 Angry Men

  • Friedkin Uncut

    Friedkin Uncut

  • Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

  • Thief

    Thief

  • To Live and Die in L.A.

    To Live and Die in L.A.

  • Mulholland Falls

    Mulholland Falls

  • The Skulls

    The Skulls

  • The Beast

    The Beast

  • The Contender

    The Contender

  • The Staircase

    The Staircase

  • Inside 'Manhunter'

    Inside 'Manhunter'

  • CSI: Immortality

    CSI: Immortality

  • The Kennedys of Massachusetts

    The Kennedys of Massachusetts

  • Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly's Los Angeles

    Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly's Los Angeles

  • The Rat Pack

    The Rat Pack

  • Hard Promises

    Hard Promises

  • Amazing Grace and Chuck

    Amazing Grace and Chuck

  • In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King

    In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King

  • Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.'

    Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.'

  • Keep the Change

    Keep the Change

  • Manhunter

    Manhunter

  • Three Short Plays by Tracy Letts

    Three Short Plays by Tracy Letts

  • Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy

    Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy

  • 100 Years of Wrigley Field

    100 Years of Wrigley Field