William Petersen

Born William Louis Petersen on February 21, 1953, in Evanston, Illinois, he was the youngest of six children. Petersen attended Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho, graduating in 1972. He initially enrolled at Idaho State University on a football scholarship but discovered a passion for acting after taking a drama course. This pivotal experience led him to leave Idaho State in 1974 with his then-wife, Joanne Brady, and follow a drama professor to the Basque country. There, he immersed himself in Shakespearean acting and Basque culture, even giving his daughter, Maite Nerea, a Basque name. Upon returning to the Chicago area, Petersen became deeply involved in the local theatre scene, co-founding the Remains Theater Ensemble alongside notable actors like Gary Cole and Ted Levine, and becoming an ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 2008.

Petersen’s career progression saw him transition from theatre to film and television. His film debut was a minor role in Michael Mann’s “Thief” (1981). He gained significant recognition for his lead roles in William Friedkin’s 1985 action film “To Live and Die in L.A.” and as FBI agent Will Graham in the 1986 Hannibal Lecter film, “Manhunter.” The emotional intensity of the “Manhunter” role was so profound that he publicly altered his appearance post-filming to disconnect from the character. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Petersen participated in various film and television projects, showcasing his range in productions such as “Young Guns II” (1990) and the miniseries “The Kennedys of Massachusetts” (1990), where he portrayed Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.

A significant turning point in Petersen’s career came in 2000 with his starring role as Gil Grissom in the CBS drama series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” This role cemented his status as a prominent television actor, earning him a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe nomination. He was also nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards as an executive producer for the show. After departing as a regular cast member in 2009, he continued as an executive producer and returned for guest appearances, including the 2015 series finale “CSI: Immortality.” In 2021, he reprised his iconic role for the sequel series “CSI: Vegas,” further extending his legacy.