William Petersen, the 72-year-old actor best known for his role as Gil Grissom in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," was recently seen in Los Angeles, approximately five years after retiring from Hollywood. Petersen, who played the meticulous CSI supervisor for the show's first nine seasons, appeared with a full beard and a baseball cap, a departure from his on-screen persona. He was dressed casually in a black shirt and sweats during his outing.
Petersen began his career with lead roles in crime films "To Live And Die In L.A." (1985) and "Manhunter" (1986), the latter of which featured Hannibal Lecter. He starred in "CSI" from 2000 and reprised his role for later seasons and the 2015 TV movie "Immortality." He also returned for the "CSI" revival, "CSI: Vegas," in 2021, during which he was hospitalized due to illness attributed to overexertion.
Speaking in September at a screening for "To Live and Die in LA," Petersen told People magazine that he felt he had accomplished all he wished to as an actor. He stated, "I don't really want to do anything!” He explained that after participating in plays, movies, and television, he no longer felt the need to pursue acting roles. Petersen, who resides in Chicago with his wife Gina Cirone and their twins, also cited the aging of friends and family as a reason for stepping away from the spotlight, adding, "I just don't have the ego to go get in front of cameras anymore."
Before his "CSI" fame, Petersen was also a notable figure in live theater, associated with Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company and co-founding the Remains Theater Ensemble. He has a daughter from his first marriage and 14-year-old twins with Cirone.