Who Played Grissom on CSI
William Petersen portrayed Gil Grissom on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation from its premiere in 2000 through 2015, with a return for the sequel series CSI: Vegas starting in 2021. The character, a forensic entomologist and night-shift supervisor, became one of the most recognizable figures in 2000s television. Petersen's portrayal anchored the original CSI franchise, which redefined the procedural genre and spawned multiple spinoffs and international adaptations.
The role earned Petersen an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2002 and a Golden Globe nomination in the same category. CSI consistently ranked among the most-watched scripted series in the United States during its original run, with the franchise credited for boosting public interest in forensic science and criminal investigation careers.
William Petersen Career Before and After CSI
Before CSI, Petersen built a stage and screen career, including a Tony-nominated performance in the 1981 Broadway production of True West and a leading role in the 1983 television movie The Rat Pack. He also starred in the 1985 film To Live and Die in L.A. and the 1986 film Manhunter, where he played FBI agent Will Graham opposite Tom Noonan's Hannibal Lecktor.
After leaving CSI, Petersen returned to theater and took on selective film and television roles. He co-starred in the 2018 film The Giant and appeared in the HBO limited series The Undoing in 2020. He also reprised the Grissom character in CSI: Vegas, which premiered on Paramount+ and CBS in 2021, continuing the franchise's legacy with a new generation of forensic investigators.
Grissom CSI Actor Net Worth and Business Interests
William Petersen's estimated net worth is around $60 million, with the bulk of his wealth accumulated during his two decades on CSI and its spinoffs. His salary for CSI reportedly reached $250,000 per episode by the later seasons, placing him among the highest-paid actors on network television at the time.
Petersen has also generated income through real estate and production ventures. He co-founded the independent film company Industry Entertainment and has been involved in producing projects outside of the CSI franchise. His investment portfolio includes property holdings in Los Angeles and Idaho, where he has lived on a ranch, and he has made strategic moves in entertainment-related businesses aligned with his long-term interests.
William Petersen Personal Life and Recent Projects
Petersen was born on February 21, 1953, in Evanston, Illinois, and attended the University of Oregon before studying theater at the Organic Theater Company in Chicago. He married producer Gina Cirone in 2003, and the couple has been noted for maintaining a relatively private life away from the Hollywood spotlight. He is involved with animal rescue organizations and has supported conservation efforts in the American West.
In recent years, Petersen has remained active with CSI: Vegas, which continues to air new episodes and expand the forensic procedural universe. The series is produced by CBS Studios and is part of the broader CSI brand managed by Paramount Global. For background on the franchise's business structure and production company details, see the CBS Studios overview on Paramount, and for information on the actor's earlier film work, see the William Petersen page on IMDb.