William Petersenborn 1953

usually

Actor

Popularity

2.9

Famous

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.

Credits

Friedkin Uncut
Friedkin Uncut

2018

Documentary

as Self

7
0.6
CSI: Immortality
CSI: Immortality

2015

Crime • Mystery • TV Movie

as Gil Grissom

7.1
0.9
100 Years of Wrigley Field
100 Years of Wrigley Field

2014

Documentary

as Narrator

0
0
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

2012

Adventure • Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Trucker

6.6
1.3
Detachment
Detachment

2011

Drama

as Mr. 'Sarge' Kepler

7.6
4.9
This Old Cub
This Old Cub

2004

Documentary

as Himself

0
0.2
Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly's Los Angeles
0
0.1
Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy
Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy

2001

Documentary

as Narrator

0
0.1
Inside 'Manhunter'
Inside 'Manhunter'

2001

Documentary

as Himself

7
0.2
Haven
Haven

2001

Drama • TV Movie

as Jackson Connolly

6.9
0.7
The Contender
The Contender

2000

Drama • Thriller

as Jack Hathaway

6.7
1.6
The Skulls
The Skulls

2000

Crime • Drama • Thriller

as Ames Levritt

5.8
1.1
Kiss the Sky
Kiss the Sky

1998

Drama • Romance

as Jess

5.6
0.3
The Rat Pack
The Rat Pack

1998

Drama • TV Movie

as John F. Kennedy

5.9
0.5
The Staircase
The Staircase

1998

Drama • TV Movie

as Joad

7.5
0.3
Gunshy
Gunshy

1998

Action • Crime • Thriller

as Jake Bridges

5.3
0.7
12 Angry Men
12 Angry Men

1997

Drama • TV Movie

as Juror 12

7.7
2.5
The Beast
The Beast

1996

Action • Adventure • Horror • Science Fiction • Thriller

as Whip Dalton

5.5
0.4
Mulholland Falls
Mulholland Falls

1996

Crime • Drama • Mystery • Thriller

as Jack Flynn

6
1.6
Fear
Fear

1996

Thriller

as Steve Walker

6.5
6.4
In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King
3.5
0.2
Curaçao
Curaçao

1993

Action • Adventure • TV Movie • Thriller

as Stephen Guerin

6.6
0.4
Keep the Change
Keep the Change

1992

Adventure • Drama • TV Movie

as Joe Starling

6
0.2
Passed Away
Passed Away

1992

Comedy

as Frank Scanlan

5.4
0.3
Hard Promises
Hard Promises

1992

Comedy • Romance

as Joey

5.2
0.5
Young Guns II
Young Guns II

1990

Adventure • Western

as Patrick Floyd 'Pat' Garrett

6.5
1.9
Cousins
Cousins

1989

Comedy • Romance

as Tom Hardy

6
0.6
Long Gone
Long Gone

1987

Comedy • Drama • TV Movie

as Stud Cantrell

6.6
0.3
Amazing Grace and Chuck
Amazing Grace and Chuck

1987

Drama

as Russell

5.7
0.4
Manhunter
Manhunter

1986

Crime • Horror • Thriller

as Will Graham

7
0.2
To Live and Die in L.A.
To Live and Die in L.A.

1985

Action • Crime • Thriller

as Richard Chance

7.1
1.9
Thief
Thief

1981

Crime • Drama • Thriller

as Katz & Jammer Bartender

7.2
2.4

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