William Petersen
Biography
William Petersen is a retired American actor best known for playing Dr. Gil Grissom on a CBS crime drama from 2000 to 2009, work that brought him a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe nomination and three Primetime Emmy nominations as a producer. Born in Evanston, Illinois, he took an acting course at Idaho State University, performed with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and helped found the Remains Theater Ensemble. His screen debut came with a small part in Michael Mann's Thief (1981), and he broke through as a rogue Secret Service agent in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) and as FBI agent Will Graham in Manhunter (1986). Later roles include Young Guns II (1990), Fear (1996), 12 Angry Men (1997), The Contender (2000) and Detachment (2011). He received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2009.
73years old
Turns 74 on February 21in 103 days
- Born Evanston
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- William Louis Petersen (birth name)Also credited as William L. Petersen
Movie Career
- Films
- 17
- Career span
- 33 years1985 to 2018
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Getting ready for a role
Petersen found playing Graham so emotionally exhausting that once principal photography wrapped he bleached his hair blond, cut it and shaved his beard to rid himself of the role. He also said he did this because while rehearsing a play in Chicago he was speaking like Graham.
First role
Petersen's film debut was a bit part in Michael Mann's Thief, and his first break came as a rogue Secret Service agent in William Friedkin's To Live and Die in L.A.
Early training
Petersen co-founded the Remains Theater Ensemble in Chicago with actors Gary Cole and Ted Levine, and has been a Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble member since 2008.
Beyond film
In 2006, Petersen stepped away from CSI for five weeks to act in Dublin Carol, a Conor McPherson play staged by the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island.
William Petersen movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
William Friedkin directed two of these films, Rob Cohen two. Six actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Willem Dafoe's page
Christian Slater's page
Joan Allen's page
Ted Danson's page
Tyrees Allen's page
All films by William Friedkin
All films by Rob Cohen
Box office
What William Petersen's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$198 million
9 of the 17 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 17 films: 9 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 4 never in cinemas; 2 figure not found.
- 9Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 4Never in cinemas
- 2Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 98% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$59M29.9% of the total
- 2$51M25.7% of the total
- 3$22M11.4% of the total
- 4$22M11.2% of the total
- 5$17M8.8% of the total
- 6$9.6M4.9% of the total
- 7$8.6M4.4% of the total
- 8$4.0M2.0% of the total
$3.7 millionfrom the other 1 film with a worldwide figure, 2% of the total
Awards
Two awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAG Awards | |||
| 2005 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.