William Petersen

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Details

AKA: William Louis Petersen, William L Petersen
Nationality: American
Birthdate: 02/21/1953
Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, USA

biography

Handsome, athletic and wiry, this veteran of the Chicago stage entered movies convincingly playing edgy, implacable pursuers but soon seemed just as credible in sports dramas and light comedies. Petersen simmered as the morally ambiguous protagonist of William Friedkin's scalding crime drama, "To Live and Die in L.A." (1985). Sporting alarmingly tight pants and a bad attitude, he was a Secret Service agent who lavishly breaks the law to snare a master counterfeiter (Willem Dafoe). The following year, Petersen brought a nearly palpable confusion and anxiety to his portrait of a burned out FBI Continued

Credits

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
(TV Show)
2000-2009
Coup de Grace
Executive Producer
2009
Working Stiffs
Executive Producer
2009
Ghost Town
Executive Producer
2009
Family Affair
Executive Producer
2009
All In
Executive Producer
2009
Hog Heaven
Executive Producer
2009
The Gone Dead Train
Executive Producer
2009
If I had a Hammer…
Executive Producer
2009
A Space Oddity
Executive Producer
2009
The Descent of Man
Executive Producer
2009
Mascara
Executive Producer
2009
No Way Out
Executive Producer
2009
Turn, Turn, Turn
Executive Producer
2009
Kill Me If You Can
Executive Producer
2009
Miscarriage of Justice
Executive Producer
2009
Deep Fried and Minty Fresh
Executive Producer
2009
Disarmed & Dangerous
Executive Producer
2009
The Grave Shift
Executive Producer
2009
One To Go
Gil Grissom
2009
One To Go
Executive Producer
2009
19 Down…
Gil Grissom
2008
19 Down…
Executive Producer
2008
Young Man With A Horn
Gil Grissom
2008
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
Gil Grissom
2008
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
Executive Producer
2008
Say Uncle
Gil Grissom
2008
Say Uncle
Executive Producer
2008
Leave Out All the Rest
Gil Grissom
2008
Leave Out All the Rest
Executive Producer
2008
Let It Bleed
Gil Grissom
2008
Let It Bleed
Executive Producer
2008
Art Imitates Life
Gil Grissom
2008
Art Imitates Life
Executive Producer
2008
The Happy Place
Gil Grissom
2008
The Happy Place
Executive Producer
2008
For Warrick
Gil Grissom
2008
For Warrick
Executive Producer
2008
For Gedda
Gil Grissom
2008
For Gedda
Executive Producer
2008
Two and a Half Deaths
Gil Grissom
2008
Two and a Half Deaths
Executive Producer
2008
The Theory of Everything
Gil Grissom
2008
The Theory of Everything
Executive Producer
2008
Drop's Out
Gil Grissom
2008
Drop's Out
Executive Producer
2008
A Thousand Days on Earth
Gil Grissom
2008
A Thousand Days on Earth
Executive Producer
2008
Grissom's Divine Comedy
Gil Grissom
2008
Grissom's Divine Comedy
Executive Producer
2008
Bull
Gil Grissom
2008
Bull
Executive Producer
2008
Lying Down with Dogs
Gil Grissom
2007
Lying Down with Dogs
Executive Producer
2007
Cockroaches
Gil Grissom
2007
Cockroaches
Executive Producer
2007
You Kill Me
Gil Grissom
2007
You Kill Me
Executive Producer
2007
Goodbye & Good Luck
Gil Grissom
2007
Goodbye & Good Luck
Executive Producer
2007
Who and What
Gil Grissom
2007
Who and What
Executive Producer
2007
The Chick Chop Flick Shop
Gil Grissom
2007
The Chick Chop Flick Shop
Executive Producer
2007
The Case of the Cross-Dressing Carp
Gil Grissom
2007
The Case of the Cross-Dressing Carp
Executive Producer
2007
Go To Hell
Gil Grissom
2007
Go To Hell
Executive Producer
2007
A La Cart
Gil Grissom
2007
A La Cart
Executive Producer
2007
Dead Doll
Gil Grissom
2007
Dead Doll
Executive Producer
2007
Living Doll
Gil Grissom
2007
Living Doll
Executive Producer
2007
The Good, the Bad and the Dominatrix
Gil Grissom
2007
The Good, the Bad and the Dominatrix
Executive Producer
2007
Leapin' Lizards
Gil Grissom
2007
Leapin' Lizards
Executive Producer
2007
Ending Happy
Gil Grissom
2007
Ending Happy
Executive Producer
2007
Lab Rats
Gil Grissom
2007
Lab Rats
Executive Producer
2007
Big Shots
Gil Grissom
2007
Big Shots
Executive Producer
2007
Empty Eyes
Gil Grissom
2007
Empty Eyes
Executive Producer
2007
Fallen Idols
Gil Grissom
2007
Fallen Idols
Executive Producer
2007
Monster in the Box
Gil Grissom
2007
Monster in the Box
Executive Producer
2007
Law of Gravity
Gil Grissom
2007
Law of Gravity
Executive Producer
2007
Meet Market
Gil Grissom
2007
Meet Market
Executive Producer
2007
Redrum
Gil Grissom
2007
Redrum
Executive Producer
2007
Sweet Jane
Gil Grissom
2007
Sweet Jane
Executive Producer
2007
Leaving Las Vegas
Gil Grissom
2007
Leaving Las Vegas
Executive Producer
2007
Loco Motives
Gil Grissom
2006
Loco Motives
Executive Producer
2006
Living Legend
Gil Grissom
2006
Living Legend
Executive Producer
2006
Happenstance
Gil Grissom
2006
Happenstance
Executive Producer
2006
Post Mortem
Gil Grissom
2006
Post Mortem
Executive Producer
2006
Burn Out
Gil Grissom
2006
Burn Out
Executive Producer
2006
Double-Cross
Gil Grissom
2006
Double-Cross
Executive Producer
2006
Fannysmackin'
Gil Grissom
2006
Fannysmackin'
Executive Producer
2006
Toe Tags
Gil Grissom
2006
Toe Tags
Executive Producer
2006
Built to Kill (Part 2)
Gil Grissom
2006
Built to Kill (Part 2)
Executive Producer
2006
Built to Kill (Part 1)
Gil Grissom
2006
Built to Kill (Part 1)
Executive Producer
2006
Way to Go
Gil Grissom
2006
Way to Go
Executive Producer
2006
Bang Bang
Gil Grissom
2006
Bang Bang
Executive Producer
2006
Time of Your Death
Gil Grissom
2006
Time of Your Death
Executive Producer
2006
Rashomama
Gil Grissom
2006
Rashomama
Executive Producer
2006
Poppin Tags
Gil Grissom
2006
Poppin Tags
Executive Producer
2006
Spellbound
Gil Grissom
2006
Spellbound
Executive Producer
2006
The Unusual Suspect
Gil Grissom
2006
The Unusual Suspect
Executive Producer
2006
I Like to Watch
Gil Grissom
2006
I Like to Watch
Executive Producer
2006
Up In Smoke
Gil Grissom
2006
Up In Smoke
Executive Producer
2006
Pirates of the Third Reich
Gil Grissom
2006
Pirates of the Third Reich
Executive Producer
2006
Killer
Gil Grissom
2006
Killer
Executive Producer
2006
Kiss-Kiss Bye Bye
Gil Grissom
2006
Kiss-Kiss Bye Bye
Executive Producer
2006
Daddy's Little Girl
Gil Grissom
2006
Daddy's Little Girl
Executive Producer
2006
Werewolves
Gil Grissom
2006
Werewolves
Executive Producer
2006
Still Life
Gil Grissom
2005
Still Life
Executive Producer
2005
Dog Eat Dog
Gil Grissom
2005
Dog Eat Dog
Executive Producer
2005
A Bullet Runs Through It (Part 2)
Gil Grissom
2005
A Bullet Runs Through It (Part 2)
Executive Producer
2005
A Bullet Runs Through It (Part 1)
Gil Grissom
2005
A Bullet Runs Through It (Part 1)
Executive Producer
2005
Secrets and Flies
Gil Grissom
2005
Secrets and Flies
Executive Producer
2005
Gumdrops
Gil Grissom
2005
Gumdrops
Executive Producer
2005
Shooting Stars
Gil Grissom
2005
Shooting Stars
Executive Producer
2005
Bite Me
Gil Grissom
2005
Bite Me
Executive Producer
2005
Room Service
Gil Grissom
2005
Room Service
Executive Producer
2005
Bodies in Motion
Gil Grissom
2005
Bodies in Motion
Executive Producer
2005
Grave Danger
Gil Grissom
2005
Grave Danger
Executive Producer
2005
Iced
Gil Grissom
2005
Iced
Executive Producer
2005
Weeping Willows
Gil Grissom
2005
Weeping Willows
Executive Producer
2005
Committed
Gil Grissom
2005
Committed
Executive Producer
2005
Hollywood Brass
Gil Grissom
2005
Hollywood Brass
Executive Producer
2005
4x4
Gil Grissom
2005
4x4
Executive Producer
2005
Spark of Life
Gil Grissom
2005
Spark of Life
Executive Producer
2005
Compulsion
Gil Grissom
2005
Compulsion
Executive Producer
2005
Big Middle
Gil Grissom
2005
Big Middle
Executive Producer
2005
King Baby
Gil Grissom
2005
King Baby
Executive Producer
2005
Unbearable
Gil Grissom
2005
Unbearable
Executive Producer
2005
Nesting Dolls
Gil Grissom
2005
Nesting Dolls
Executive Producer
2005
Snakes
Gil Grissom
2005
Snakes
Executive Producer
2005
Who Shot Sherlock
Gil Grissom
2005
Who Shot Sherlock
Executive Producer
2005
No Humans Involved
Gil Grissom
2004
No Humans Involved
Executive Producer
2004
Mea Culpa
Gil Grissom
2004
Mea Culpa
Executive Producer
2004
Ch-Ch-Changes
Gil Grissom
2004
Ch-Ch-Changes
Executive Producer
2004
Formalities
Gil Grissom
2004
Formalities
Executive Producer
2004
What's Eating Gilbert Grissom?
Gil Grissom
2004
What's Eating Gilbert Grissom?
Executive Producer
2004
Swap Meet
Gil Grissom
2004
Swap Meet
Executive Producer
2004
Crow's Feet
Gil Grissom
2004
Crow's Feet
Executive Producer
2004
Harvest
Gil Grissom
2004
Harvest
Executive Producer
2004
Down the Drain
Gil Grissom
2004
Down the Drain
Executive Producer
2004
Viva Las Vegas
Gil Grissom
2004
Viva Las Vegas
Executive Producer
2004
Bloodlines
Gil Grissom
2004
Bloodlines
Executive Producer
2004
No More Bets
Gil Grissom
2004
No More Bets
Executive Producer
2004
Turning the Screws
Gil Grissom
2004
Turning the Screws
Executive Producer
2004
Dead Ringer
Gil Grissom
2004
Dead Ringer
Executive Producer
2004
Bad Words
Gil Grissom
2004
Bad Words
Executive Producer
2004
Bad to the Bone
Gil Grissom
2004
Bad to the Bone
Executive Producer
2004
XX
Gil Grissom
2004
XX
Co-Executive Producer
2004
Getting Off
Gil Grissom
2004
Getting Off
Executive Producer
2004
Early Rollout
Gil Grissom
2004
Early Rollout
Executive Producer
2004
Paper or Plastic?
Gil Grissom
2004
Paper or Plastic?
Executive Producer
2004
Suckers
Gil Grissom
2004
Suckers
Executive Producer
2004
Butterflied
Gil Grissom
2004
Butterflied
Co-Executive Producer
2004
Eleven Angry Jurors
Gil Grissom
2004
Eleven Angry Jurors
Co-Executive Producer
2004
Coming of Rage
Gil Grissom
2003
Coming of Rage
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Grissom Versus the Volcano
Gil Grissom
2003
Grissom Versus the Volcano
Co-Executive Producer
2003
After the Show
Gil Grissom
2003
After the Show
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Invisible Evidence
Gil Grissom
2003
Invisible Evidence
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Jackpot
Gil Grissom
2003
Jackpot
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Fur and Loathing
Gil Grissom
2003
Fur and Loathing
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Feeling the Heat
Gil Grissom
2003
Feeling the Heat
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Homebodies
Gil Grissom
2003
Homebodies
Co-Executive Producer
2003
All for Our Country
Gil Grissom
2003
All for Our Country
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Assume Nothing
Gil Grissom
2003
Assume Nothing
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Inside the Box
Gil Grissom
2003
Inside the Box
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Play with Fire
Gil Grissom
2003
Play with Fire
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Forever
Gil Grissom
2003
Forever
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Last Laugh
Gil Grissom
2003
Last Laugh
Co-Executive Producer
2003
A Night at the Movies
Gil Grissom
2003
A Night at the Movies
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Precious Metal
Gil Grissom
2003
Precious Metal
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Crash & Burn
Gil Grissom
2003
Crash & Burn
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Lucky Strike
Gil Grissom
2003
Lucky Strike
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Lady Heather's Box
Gil Grissom
2003
Lady Heather's Box
Co-Executive Producer
2003
One Hit Wonder
Gil Grissom
2003
One Hit Wonder
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Random Acts of Violence
Gil Grissom
2003
Random Acts of Violence
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Got Murder?
Gil Grissom
2003
Got Murder?
Co-Executive Producer
2003
Recipe for Murder
Gil Grissom
2003
Recipe for Murder
Co-Executive Producer
2003
High and Low
Gil Grissom
2002
High and Low
Co-Executive Producer
2002
Blood Lust
Gil Grissom
2002
Blood Lust
Co-Executive Producer
2002
Snuff
Gil Grissom
2002
Snuff
Co-Executive Producer
2002
Fight Night
Gil Grissom
2002
Fight Night
Co-Executive Producer
2002
The Execution of Catherine Willows
Gil Grissom
2002
The Execution of Catherine Willows
Co-Executive Producer
2002
Abra Cadaver
Gil Grissom
2002
Abra Cadaver
Co-Executive Producer
2002
A Little Murder
Gil Grissom
2002
A Little Murder
Co-Executive Producer
2002
Let the Seller Beware
Gil Grissom
2002
Let the Seller Beware
Co-Executive Producer
2002
The Accused is Entitled
Gil Grissom
2002
The Accused is Entitled
Co-Executive Producer
2002
Revenge is Best Served Cold
Gil Grissom
2002
Revenge is Best Served Cold
Co-Executive Producer
2002
The Hunger Artist
Gil Grissom
2002
The Hunger Artist
Supervising Producer
2002
Cross-Jurisdictions
Gil Grissom
2002
Cross-Jurisdictions
Supervising Producer
2002
Anatomy of a Lye
Gil Grissom
2002
Anatomy of a Lye
Supervising Producer
2002
Cats in the Cradle...
Gil Grissom
2002
Cats in the Cradle...
Supervising Producer
2002
Stalker
Gil Grissom
2002
Stalker
Supervising Producer
2002
Chasing the Bus
Gil Grissom
2002
Chasing the Bus
Supervising Producer
2002
Felonius Monk
Gil Grissom
2002
Felonius Monk
Producer
2002
Primum Non Nocere
Gil Grissom
2002
Primum Non Nocere
Producer
2002
Burden of Proof
Gil Grissom
2002
Burden of Proof
Producer
2002
The Finger
Gil Grissom
2002
The Finger
Producer
2002
Identity Crisis
Gil Grissom
2002
Identity Crisis
Producer
2002
Identity Crisis
Producer
2002
Identity Crisis
Producer
2002
You've Got Male
Gil Grissom
2001
You've Got Male
Producer
2001
You've Got Male
Producer
2001
Organ Grinder
Gil Grissom
2001
Organ Grinder
Producer
2001
Organ Grinder
Producer
2001
Ellie
Gil Grissom
2001
Ellie
Producer
2001
And Then There Were None
Gil Grissom
2001
And Then There Were None
Producer
2001
And Then There Were None
Producer
2001
Slaves of Las Vegas
Gil Grissom
2001
Slaves of Las Vegas
Producer
2001
Caged
Gil Grissom
2001
Caged
Producer
2001
Alter Boys
Gil Grissom
2001
Alter Boys
Producer
2001
Alter Boys
Producer
2001
Alter Boys
Producer
2001
Scuba Doobie-Doo
Gil Grissom
2001
Scuba Doobie-Doo
Producer
2001
Scuba Doobie-Doo
Producer
2001
Bully for You
Gil Grissom
2001
Bully for You
Producer
2001
Overload
Gil Grissom
2001
Overload
Producer
2001
Chaos Theory
Gil Grissom
2001
Burked
Gil Grissom
2001
Burked
Producer
2001
The Strip Strangler
Gil Grissom
2001
The Strip Strangler
Producer
2001
Evaluation Day
Gil Grissom
2001
Evaluation Day
Producer
2001
Justice is Served
Gil Grissom
2001
Justice is Served
Producer
2001
Sounds of Silence
Gil Grissom
2001
Sounds of Silence
Producer
2001
Gentle, Gentle
Gil Grissom
2001
Gentle, Gentle
Producer
2001
Face Lift
Gil Grissom
2001
$35K O.B.O.
Gil Grissom
2001
Face Lift
Producer
2001
Face Lift
Producer
2001
$35K O.B.O.
Producer
2001
Face Lift
Producer
2001
Too Tough to Die
Gil Grissom
2001
Too Tough to Die
Producer
2001
Table Stakes
Gil Grissom
2001
Table Stakes
Producer
2001
To Halve and to Hold
Gil Grissom
2001
To Halve and to Hold
Producer
2001
Boom
Gil Grissom
2001
Boom
Gil Grissom
2001
Boom
Producer
2001
Fahrenheit 932
Gil Grissom
2001
Fahrenheit 932
Producer
2001
I-15 Murders
Gil Grissom
2001
I-15 Murders
Producer
2001
Sex, Lies and Larvae
Gil Grissom
2000
Sex, Lies and Larvae
Producer
2000
Unfriendly Skies
Gil Grissom
2000
Unfriendly Skies
Producer
2000
Anonymous
Gil Grissom
2000
Anonymous
Producer
2000
Blood Drops (aka If These Walls Could Talk)
Gil Grissom
2000
Blood Drops (aka If These Walls Could Talk)
Producer
2000
Who Are You?
Gil Grissom
2000
Who Are You?
Producer
2000
Friends & Lovers
Gil Grissom
2000
Friends & Lovers
Producer
2000
Friends & Lovers
Producer
2000
Pledging Mr. Johnson
Gil Grissom
2000
Pledging Mr. Johnson
Producer
2000
Crate 'n Burial
Gil Grissom
2000
Crate 'n Burial
Producer
2000
Cool Change
Gil Grissom
2000
Cool Change
Producer
2000
Pilot
Gil Grissom
2000
Pilot
Gil Grissom
2000
Pilot
Gil Grissom
2000
Pilot
Producer
2000
+(407 More)
Without A Trace
(TV Show)
2007-2007
Where & Why
Gil Grissom
2007
TV Land Moguls
(TV Show)
2004-2004
The 90s
Interviewee
2004
The Contender
Jack Hathaway
2000
The Skulls
Ames Levritt
2000
Fear
Steve Walker
1996
Cousins
Tom Hardy
1989
Manhunter
Will Graham
1986
Passed Away
Frank Scanlan
Young Guns II
Sheriff Pat Garrett
The Rat Pack
John F Kennedy
Amazing Grace and Chuck
Russell
Hard Promises
Producer
Hard Promises
Joey Coalter
To Live and Die in L.A.
Richard Chance
In the Kingdom of the Blind
Actor

milestones

Year
Milestone
1974 
Followed a drama professor to Basque country where he studied as a Shakespearean actor
 
Returned to the Chicago area, and became active in the theater
 
Co-founded the Remains Theater Ensemble which also included other prominent Chicago actors
 
Chicago theatre debut, "Canticle of the Sun"
1981 
Made feature debut in Michael Mann's "Thief" (billed as William L. Petersen)
Continued

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