Acting
William L. Petersen
Born Feb 21, 1953 · Evanston, Illinois, USA
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.
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Acting
CSI: Vegas
2021
Crime · Drama · Mystery
Three Short Plays by Tracy Letts
2021
Friedkin Uncut
2018
Documentary
CSI: Immortality
2015
Crime · Mystery · TV Movie
Manhattan
2014
Drama · War & Politics
100 Years of Wrigley Field
2014
Documentary
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
2012
Comedy · Drama · Romance
Blue
2012
Drama
Detachment
2011
Drama
This Old Cub
2004
Documentary
Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly's Los Angeles
2004
Documentary
Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.'
2003
Documentary
Without a Trace
2002
Crime · Mystery · Action & Adventure
Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy
2001
Documentary
Inside 'Manhunter'
2001
Documentary
Haven
2001
Drama · TV Movie
Haven
2001
The Contender
2000
Drama · Thriller
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Crime · Drama · Mystery
The Skulls
2000
Crime · Drama · Thriller
Kiss the Sky
1998
Romance · Drama
The Rat Pack
1998
Drama
The Staircase
1998
Drama · TV Movie
Gunshy
1998
Action · Crime · Thriller
12 Angry Men
1997
Drama · TV Movie
The Beast
1996
Action · Adventure · Horror
The Beast
1996
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Mulholland Falls
1996
Drama · Mystery · Thriller
Fear
1996
Thriller
In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King
1995
Crime · Drama
Return to Lonesome Dove
1993
Drama · Western
Fallen Angels
1993
Crime · Drama · Mystery
Curaçao
1993
Action · Adventure · Thriller
Keep the Change
1992
Drama · Adventure · TV Movie
Passed Away
1992
Comedy
Hard Promises
1992
Comedy · Romance
Young Guns II
1990
Western · Adventure
The Kennedys of Massachusetts
1990
Drama
Cousins
1989
Comedy · Romance
Long Gone
1987
Comedy · Drama · TV Movie
Amazing Grace and Chuck
1987
Drama
Manhunter
1986
Crime · Horror · Thriller
To Live and Die in L.A.
1985
Crime · Thriller · Action
The Twilight Zone
1985
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Drama · Mystery
Thief
1981
Crime · Thriller · Drama