William L. 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

Without a Trace

Late Show with David Letterman

The Twilight Zone

Sacrée soirée

CSI: Vegas

Fallen Angels

Manhattan

All Movies (34)

• Three Short Plays by Tracy Letts2021 · as Ted
• Friedkin Uncut2018 · as Self
• CSI: Immortality2015 · as Gil Grissom
• 100 Years of Wrigley Field2014 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
• Seeking a Friend for the End of the World2012 · as Trucker
• Detachment2011 · as Mr. 'Sarge' Kepler
• This Old Cub2004 · as Himself
• Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly's Los Angeles2004 · as Narrator
• Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.'2003 · as Self
• Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy2001 · as Narrator
• Inside 'Manhunter'2001 · as Himself
• Haven2001 · as Jackson Connolly
• The Contender2000 · as Jack Hathaway
• The Skulls2000 · as Ames Levritt
• Kiss the Sky1998 · as Jess
• The Rat Pack1998 · as John F. Kennedy
• The Staircase1998 · as Joad
• Gunshy1998 · as Jake Bridges
• 12 Angry Men1997 · as Juror 12
• The Beast1996 · as Whip Dalton
• Mulholland Falls1996 · as Jack Flynn
• Fear1996 · as Steve Walker
• In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King1995 · as Tony C.
• Curaçao1993 · as Stephen Guerin
• Keep the Change1992 · as Joe Starling
• Passed Away1992 · as Frank Scanlan
• Hard Promises1992 · as Joey
• Young Guns II1990 · as Patrick Floyd 'Pat' Garrett
• Cousins1989 · as Tom Hardy
• Long Gone1987 · as Stud Cantrell
• Amazing Grace and Chuck1987 · as Russell
• Manhunter1986 · as Will Graham
• To Live and Die in L.A.1985 · as Richard Chance
• Thief1981 · as Katz & Jammer Bartender

All TV Shows (13)

• CSI: Vegas2021 · as Gil Grissom
• Manhattan2014 · as Col. Emmett Darrow
• Blue2012 · as Mitch
• Without a Trace2002 · as Gil Grissom
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation2000 · as Gil Grissom
• The Directors1999 · as Self
• The Beast1996 · as Whip Dalton
• Return to Lonesome Dove1993 · as Captain Gideon Walker
• Late Show with David Letterman1993 · as Self - Guest
• Fallen Angels1993 · as Georgie
• The Kennedys of Massachusetts1990 · as Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.
• Sacrée soirée1987 · as Self
• The Twilight Zone1985 · as (segment "Need to Know")