CSI

Biography

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, "The Beast" and "Keep the Change." Petersen also serves as executive producer on CSI and was nominated in 2003 for a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Gil Grissom, the lead investigator.

His feature film credits include "To Live and Die in L.A.," "Manhunter," "Cousins," "Young Guns II," "Fear," "Hard Promises," which he also produced, and "The Contender."

Petersen 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. He later studied acting in Spain.

He lives in Los Angeles.