William Petersen

Birthday:

02/21/1953

Place of birth:

Evanston, Illinois, USA:

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.



Credits

Three Short Plays by Tracy Letts (2021)
Ted
Friedkin Uncut (2018)
Self
CSI: Immortality (2015)
Gil Grissom
100 Years of Wrigley Field (2014)
Narrator
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)
Trucker
Detachment (2011)
Mr. Sarge Kepler
This Old Cub (2004)
Himself
Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly's Los Angeles (2004)
Narrator
Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.' (2003)
Himself
Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy (2001)
Narrator
Inside 'Manhunter' (2001)
Himself
Haven (2001)
Jackson Connolly
The Contender (2000)
Jack Hathaway
The Skulls (2000)
Ames Levritt
Kiss the Sky (1998)
Jess
The Rat Pack (1998)
John F. Kennedy
The Staircase (1998)
Joad
Gunshy (1998)
Jake Bridges
12 Angry Men (1997)
Juror 12
The Beast (1996)
Whip Dalton
Mulholland Falls (1996)
Jack Flynn
Fear (1996)
Steve Walker
In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King (1995)
Tony C.
Curaçao (1993)
Stephen Guerin
Keep the Change (1992)
Joe Starling
Passed Away (1992)
Frank Scanlan
Hard Promises (1992)
Joey
Young Guns II (1990)
Patrick Floyd 'Pat' Garrett
Cousins (1989)
Tom Hardy
Long Gone (1987)
Stud Cantrell
Amazing Grace and Chuck (1987)
Russell (as William L. Petersen)
Manhunter (1986)
Will Graham
To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Richard Chance
Thief (1981)
Katz & Jammer Bartender
CSI: Immortality (2015)
Executive Producer
Hard Promises (1992)
Producer