William L. Petersen

William Louis Petersen, an American actor and producer, rose to prominence through his portrayal of Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," a role that spanned a decade. Before this, he starred as Richard Chance in "To Live and Die in L.A." and Will Graham in "Manhunter," cementing his place in crime and thriller genres. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Petersen began acting at Idaho State University, later immersing himself in the Basque country as a Shakespearean actor, a period that profoundly shaped his work. His career took off with roles in Michael Mann's Hannibal Lecter series and continued to flourish with diverse performances, culminating in his Hollywood Walk of Fame induction in 2009.