William L. Petersen
Known for Acting · 47 credits
- Born
- 1953-02-21 (age 73)
- Place of birth
- Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Also known as
- William L. Petersen · William Peterson · William Louis Petersen · 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
TV Shows (13)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
as Gil Grissom
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Guest
Without a Trace
2002
as Gil Grissom
The Twilight Zone
1985
as (segment "Need to Know")
Sacrée soirée
1987
as Self
CSI: Vegas
2021
as Gil Grissom
Fallen Angels
1993
as Georgie
Manhattan
2014
as Col. Emmett Darrow
Blue
2012
as Mitch
The Directors
1999
as Self
Return to Lonesome Dove
1993
as Captain Gideon Walker
The Beast
1996
as Whip Dalton
The Kennedys of Massachusetts
1990
as Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.
Movies (34)
Fear
1996
as Steve Walker
Detachment
2011
as Mr. 'Sarge' Kepler
Thief
1981
as Katz & Jammer Bartender
12 Angry Men
1997
as Juror 12
Young Guns II
1990
as Patrick Floyd 'Pat' Garrett
Mulholland Falls
1996
as Jack Flynn
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
2012
as Trucker
To Live and Die in L.A.
1985
as Richard Chance
The Skulls
2000
as Ames Levritt
Passed Away
1992
as Frank Scanlan
Cousins
1989
as Tom Hardy
The Contender
2000
as Jack Hathaway
Haven
2001
as Jackson Connolly
Kiss the Sky
1998
as Jess
Curaçao
1993
as Stephen Guerin
CSI: Immortality
2015
as Gil Grissom
Friedkin Uncut
2018
as Self
The Beast
1996
as Whip Dalton
Gunshy
1998
as Jake Bridges
The Rat Pack
1998
as John F. Kennedy
In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King
1995
as Tony C.
Hard Promises
1992
as Joey
Long Gone
1987
as Stud Cantrell
Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.'
2003
as Self
Amazing Grace and Chuck
1987
as Russell
Keep the Change
1992
as Joe Starling
Inside 'Manhunter'
2001
as Himself
This Old Cub
2004
as Himself
Three Short Plays by Tracy Letts
2021
as Ted
The Staircase
1998
as Joad
Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly's Los Angeles
2004
as Narrator
100 Years of Wrigley Field
2014
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Manhunter
1986
as Will Graham
Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy
2001
as Narrator
About William L. Petersen
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 w… With 47 credits spanning from 1981 to 2021, William L. Petersen has appeared in 34 films and 13 TV shows.
Fans searching for William L. Petersen movies, William L. Petersen filmography, or the latest projects starring William L. Petersen can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular William L. Petersen Movies
- Fear (1996) — as Steve Walker
- Detachment (2011) — as Mr. 'Sarge' Kepler
- Thief (1981) — as Katz & Jammer Bartender
- 12 Angry Men (1997) — as Juror 12
- Young Guns II (1990) — as Patrick Floyd 'Pat' Garrett
Where to Watch William L. Petersen Films
Most William L. Petersen movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring William L. Petersen, check our movies catalogue and browse page.