William Petersen
William Petersen
William Louis Petersenis an American actor and producer best known for playing Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom in the CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He also starred in films, such as To Live and Die in L.A. and Fear...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTV Actor
Date of Birth21 February 1953
CityEvanston, IL
CountryUnited States of America
work
When we get involved in the ratings, then we're doing the network's job. We need to focus on our work.
course death farms scared women wonder
I wonder how many women would want to wallow around in maggot farms at night, ... because that's really all Grissom could give them. Women think, 'Boy, could I make improvements on this guy,' and of course Grissom is scared to death of any improvements being made.
closest except interested work
Grissom is pretty asexual. He's not that interested in anything other than work - except for Lady Heather. She's the closest to getting his heart of anyone.
audience audiences crosses huge kinds loyal niche viewers
We thought we would have a niche audience of loyal viewers like 'X-Files' or 'West Wing.' But we have a huge audience that crosses all kinds of boundaries. It's unique. It's bizarre.
assume characters due people quality turns twists week
I assume that part of it is due to the quality of the show and the characters and their chemistry. People like the way it twists and turns on itself. Each week is a puzzle, a really well-done puzzle.
asking aspect becomes broken culture everybody green guys inside instead people period spiritual tea
The culture had just been through this postmodern period of green tea and Buddhism, with everybody asking the big questions. People were lost. These guys had answers. You see a close-up of a broken toenail inside a shoe, and that becomes an important clue. Instead of the big things, it's about the littlest things. And they become the most important things. It's a new way of perceiving, and I think that spiritual aspect of the show is why people keep watching.
first-love tv-shows careers
Theater in Chicago will always be my first love. It started careers for me and about 50 of my friends. We all love coming back. As soon as the TV show is over, I'll be back in Chicago, doing live theater.
life-changing drinking tired
The beard is here because I got tired of shaving and Grissom, subsequently, got tired of shaving. Grissom, like any other 50-year-old man, is going through a series of mid-life changes. Who knows, he may start drinking.
lost-love lost greater
There’s no greater search than that of lost love.
goodbye night years
Now I'm seen by more people in one episode than I was in 20 years of theatre and movies. It's gratifying to have an impact on 25 million people a night, but I can say goodbye to my lunch-pail life as a working actor. I'm scared I might be a celebrity.
math opposites tests
I was horrible at science and math. I couldn't pass a test to save my life! I'm surprised that it didn't take me until I was 20 to graduate. That's why my role is so cool - Grissom is the complete opposite of me.
character thinking people
I think you can find yourself on one of these shows for a long period of time and think that all you'll ever be able to do is that character. Certainly people think of you that way.
able panic rehearsal
I had panic attacks during rehearsal. There were times when I really thought I wasn't going to be able to do it.
dad play dry-up
I didn't want to play a lawyer. I didn't want to play a doctor. I didn't want to play a single dad. I wanted to do something I felt I could learn from, something that would be a challenge and something that would not dry up.