William Petersen

Person Score

 
9.3 Superb
740 votes

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Biography

Recent Role:
on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Gender:
Male
Born:
2-21-1953
Birthplace:
Evanston, Illinois
Birth Name:
William Louis Petersen
AKA:
William L. Petersen, William Peterson
William Petersen has a distinguished background in film, theater, and television. His television credits include the films Long Gone, The Rat Pack, The Kennedys of Massachusetts, which won a Golden Globe Award, and The Beast. He also serves as executive producer of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and was nominated in 2003 for a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of lead investigator Gil Grissom.

His feature film credits include To Live and Die in L.A., Manhunter, Cousins, Young Guns II, Fear, Hard

More Promises, which he also produced, and The Contender.

Peterson 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 was born in Evanston, Illinois, and first discovered acting while on a football scholarship at Idaho State University.


From the Forums

More Topics
  • Don't leave the show.

    William Peterson is a Great actor and it will not be the same if he leaves the show. Good Luck with what you will be doing.

    3 comments, last one Mar 21, 2011
  • He could investigate me any time

    If I commited a crime I would want william peterson to investigate me. Okay its not real life, it would be a fantasy of mine. Since "Manhunter", I have beena fan. This guy has got talent, but most of all he has got sex appeal! He makes me melt, behind his intrusive investigations. His voice is soMore sultry and Sara is one lucky girl, even though it took her long enough to realise the guy had feeling for her! Cant believe he is leaving csi, I dont feel the series will be the same, not only without him, but because most of the best characters are leaving, or have left. Grissam you will be sadly missed, but by one love forlorn fan anyway. He has been fresh faced to bearded crow eyed face, but we have grown with him. Boo hoo I for one am gonna miss him!:cry:

    2 comments, last one Sep 5, 2010
  • Who is he dating?

    who is william dating?? rumors it is jorja? i dont think so but... idk.. lol

    5 comments, last one Oct 31, 2008
  • Whose Voice?

    Does William Petersen do the voice on the Army tv ads?

    1 comments, last one Sep 2, 2008
  • Welcome to the TV.com Forums for William Petersen

    Welcome to the TV.com Forums for William Petersen. Here is your area to discuss, dissect and debate all things about this person.

    1 comments, last one Nov 10, 2006
More Topics

William Petersen News

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    William please come back to CSI, it is not the same show any more… hide show

    Unfortunately I didn't realize William before CSI. But his character was the first reason for me to watch it. At first Gil was weird the bug man and but then the character developed and we saw his caring and loving side of his character and it all seemed so real. That is an evidence of talent of William.
    He is an extremely talented and excellent actor. I am missing very much since he left the CSI. I don't understand how he could do this to us. I should give him -10. But I am giving him 10 because he deserves that.

    Do you agree?
     
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  •  
    10 Perfect
    My mother and I use to watch this show together, even though she is no longer living I am still very fond of it. It has had many great seasons and I am glad that it could be one of guilty pleasure of mine and i even enjoy watching the reruns on spike. xo hide show

    I love this show so much!!!

    and him!!!

    I don't care if he could be my dad.. I love him and I loved him in the movie FEAR.

    He is a phenomenal actor and he's hot!

    yes I said it, I ain't shy.
    he made this show and I don't know how its gonna be without him. Makes me real sad:((

    I love actors who make their roles great and mind blowing and he always kept me in anticipation. I like that.
    GO G!

    I think he should stay on but maybe he wants a change???
    what do you all think??? I know I'm really gonna miss him.

    Do you agree?
     
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  •  
    8.5 Great
    Awesome hide show

    I think one of the great actors in drama series. He can just answer by looking at someone and you'll know just what he thinks. He seems in control of everything, all the time. I just regret not seeing him in more dramatic roles, or scenes (or perhaps is it that we don't get too much of his appearances out here...). Well, one big guy, obviously talented at acting but also in producing and behind the scenes kind of activities.
    I'm also glad to see that in CSI, he actually got in a romance, gives his character more "humanity" than just being the boss.

    Do you agree?
     
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  •  
    10 Perfect
    portrays the character of gill grissom brilliantly!!!! hide show

    For me, William Petersen is an excellent actor. His portrayal of Grissom is brillant. i love csi, it is my favourite programme and one of the reasons why is because of gill grissom. His character is great and petersen plays it brillantly. i have seen a few other things petersen has been in and he really is a great actor, but grissom is his best performance and i hope he doesnt leave anytime soon!!!! He makes csi what it is, without him it would still be a good show,but not as great as it is with him, also i cant imagine anyone else playing grissom quite as well as him.

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  •  
    9.5 Superb
    First, I haven't seen a lot of Petersens previous work and what I saw was not at all memorable!
    But: hide show

    I must strongly emphasize, that his portrayal of the quirky entomologist and graveyard shift supervisor Gil Grissom with an alleged Asperger's Syndrom, resides among the best performances that can be seen on television nowadays. As has been stated elsewhere, it's a pity, that the concept of the show has only so much room for character development, but like the recent events in his love life show, not all hope is lost. It was in the rare moments, when we get a glimpse of the hidden relationship between Grissom and Sara, that Petersen shows his talent of expressing the complexity of his character in just one volume speaking look. What more to expect from a gifted actor.

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