Who is William Petersen? See Net-worth, Quote, Awards, Fact, Wiki

William Louis Petersen Wiki Biography

William Louis Petersen was born on the 21st February 1953 in Evanston, Illinois USA, of Danish, French and German descent. He is an actor as well as a producer, best known for the roles he created in television series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000 – 2009, 2011 – 2013), and feature films “Young Guns II” (1990), “Fear” (1996), “The Skulls” (2000) among others. William Petersen has been active in the entertainment industry since 1976.

How much is the net worth of William Petersen? It has been estimated by sources that the overall size of his wealth is as much as $35 million, as of the data given in mid-2016. Reportedly, he earned $500,000 per episode of the series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”.

William Petersen Net Worth $35 Million

To begin with, Petersen grew up in Boise, Idaho, the youngest of six children. Petersen left the family being 15 years old and moved to one of his brothers. In 1974, he briefly moved to Spain with his wife-to-be, where they married and had a daughter. In 1975, he graduated on a sports scholarship from Idaho State University and moved to Chicago, where he joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. In 1979, he founded his own theater company in Chicago.

After small roles, in 1985 Petersen landed the main role in the film “To Live and Die in L.A” (1985). He missed the opportunity to establish himself as an action hero in the 1980s, when he refused an offer to land a role in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam drama “Platoon” (1986). In 1990, he took the role of Joseph P. Kennedy in the miniseries “The Kennedys of Massachusetts”. This was followed by increasingly small roles in films and television series, until he starred in the highly successful CBS series “CSI: The Crime Scene Investigation” created by Anthony E. Zuiker, for almost 10 years continuously from 2000, latterly co-producing the aforementioned series. In the role of the charismatic chief investigator Gilbert Grissom his popularity increased tremendously, and in 2004, he was nominated as the Best Actor for the Golden Globes in the category – Best Actor TV Series Drama, additionally for Emmy and Satellite Awards. In 2005, he and the cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in Drama Series. At the beginning of 2009, he received a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Later, he appeared in the main cast of the films “Detachment” (2011) and “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” (2012). In 2015, he is  joining the cast of drama series Manhattan over at WGN America. Overall, in landing the above mentioned roles William Petersen added huge sums to the total size of his net worth.

Finally, in the personal life of the actor, he married Joanne Brady in 1974, and they had a daughter but divorced in 1981. In 2003, William married for the second time, to Gina Cirone. In 2011, twins were born to the family via a surrogate mother. Petersen also has two grandchildren.



Full Name William Petersen
Net Worth $35 Million
Date Of Birth February 21, 1953
Place Of Birth Evanston, Illinois, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Profession Actor, Film Producer, Television producer
Education Bishop Kelly High School, Idaho State University
Nationality United States of America
Spouse Gina Cirone (m. 2003), Joanne Brady (m. 1974–1981)
Children Maite Petersen
Parents Arthur Edward Petersen, Sr., Helen June Hoene
Siblings Mary Kay Petersen, Anne Petersen, Arthur Petersen, Jr., Elizabeth Petersen, Robert Petersen
Nicknames William Louis Petersen , Billy , William L. Petersen , William L. Peterson , William Peterson
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/William-Petersen/133925746695090
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0676973
Awards Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in Drama Series (2005), Walk of Fame in Hollywood (2009)
Nominations Best Actor for the Golden Globes in the category – Best Actor TV Series Drama (2004), Emmy Award, Satellite Award for Best Actor- Television Series Drama
Movies “Platoon” (1986), “Young Guns II” (1990), “The Kennedys of Massachusetts” (1990), “The Beast” (1996), “Fear” (1996), “The Skulls” (2000), “To Live and Die in L.A” (1985)
TV Shows “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000-2013), “Detachment” (2011), “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” (2012), “Manhattan” (2015)
Title Salary
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) $500,000 /episode (2007- 08)
Quote
1 I’m a huge “Membership First” guy. It seems to me that all of the artists in all of the unions and guilds are getting screwed. What we’re losing in the SAG contract is the middle class — those who want to be actors and won’t make much money but want to stick with it anyway. The studios and companies, meanwhile, get to have it both ways. They’ve got their $100 million movies where they pay Brad and Tom $20 million and everyone else works for scale. Then those who make the indie movies don’t pay anybody anything. You’re supposed to make 28 cents for the honor of working with Gus Van Sant. But the company behind, say, “Milk,” winds up making a ton. The whole thing is a shell game, a con, and the actors are the ones who wind up getting jobbed.
2 After Manhunter (1986) and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), there were all these cop movies that came my way, but they weren’t any good, so I didn’t do them. Then, there was talk about my doing Platoon (1986), but I didn’t want to sit in a ditch in the Philippines for eight weeks for no money. Instead, I did an HBO baseball movie for more money and more fun, and I got to play ball. I enjoy watching great movies like Platoon (1986), but I don’t have to be in them. I never fell in love with movies. I didn’t want to spend all that time an effort. I’ve had it pretty good. I’ve had it my own way.
3 (On his life before his 2nd marriage) When I was younger, women wanted to sleep with me because of whatever movie or play they saw me in, and for about 15 years I certainly took advantage of that more often than not. I got married to my wife, Gina, last summer. I’d been working on the marriage thing with her, trying to get to a place where that was a good thing as opposed to a bad thing. Fidelity was hard when I was younger, but with maturity I got to a mindset of, What’s with all this running around to get girls? Now for me it’s the old case of, Why go out for hamburger when I’ve got steak at home?
4 (On Las Vegas) The only good thing about Vegas is watching horse races and football games and being able to throw some money down on them. I don’t play the tables, because they’re just a sucker’s game. Actually, the whole thing is a sucker’s game. I’m not a huge Vegas fan, but it’s the perfect milieu for the show. Everyone who goes there, even if they’re old ladies from a Bible group in Mississippi, they go there to stick nickels into slots and feel a little dirty and dark. Shit happens when you get into that world. Guys lose their wives and money, women end up deciding to stay and become strippers. It’s the dirty playground for the Darth Vader in all of us.
5 After Manhunter (1986), I had to actually kill off the character. I cut off most of my hair and dyed it blonde. I changed my whole look just to get rid of him.
6 I was only 21, and there were many things I didn’t know. I was trying to be a man and I wasn’t ready for it. – on being married at a young age
7 The greatest thing that ever happened to me in terms of my acting was the audition for To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). After I read, William Friedkin put down the script and said, “You got the part”. I really thought it was a joke. I went back to my hotel room and took a bath and they called and wanted to make a deal. I still didn’t believe it.
8 “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.” (on what he plans to do after “CSI”)
9 “It took me two months to get that part. I mean, who the hell was I? I wasn’t going to sell that picture” – on his role as “Will Graham” in Manhunter (1986).
10 “Their argument was, Everybody else is going to start copying the show, so why not us? My attitude was, Well, then let everybody else do it. Don’t rip yourself off.” (On the network and producers’ decision to create the CSI spin-off series, CSI: Miami (2002)).
11 (On seeing the Marlon Brando movie, Ultimo tango a Parigi (1972) (aka “Last Tango in Paris”) “It was the first time that I understood that acting was an art form. It was not Clint Eastwood on a horse, Bob Hope in a road movie. It was not Don Knotts in The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964). These are favorite movies of mine, too. But when I sat in “Last Tango in Paris”, the lightbulb went on. To this day, Brando is the one I want to meet, and the one I’m terrified to meet”.
Fact
1 His name originates from the Germanic name Willahelm, which was composed of the elements wil “will, desire” and helm “helmet, protection”.
2 William’s paternal grandfather, Jurgen Petersen, was born in Germany, to Danish parents, Andreas Christian Petersen and Anna Margaretha Ericksen. William’s paternal grandmother, Lizzie Ricksher, was of German and French ancestry, while both of William’s maternal grandparents, Arthur Cornelius Hoene and Katherine Vera Vollmar, were of German descent.
3 The actor who dubs his voice in Czech, Vladislav Benes, is also the Czech dubbing voice of Pierce Brosnan, Richard Gere, and Noah Wyle.
4 Has played the roles of both father and son, Joseph P. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy. Played Joseph P. Kennedy in The Kennedys of Massachusetts. Played John F. Kennedy in Rat Pack.
5 Lived for a time with Amy Morton.
6 Longtime friend of Gary Cole.
7 Has a second grandson named Indigo August, born in August 2009.
8 He was awarded the 2009 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for “Blackbird” at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago, Illinois.
9 He was nominated for a 1994 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for “The Night of the Iguana” at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
10 He was awarded the 1984 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for “In the Belly of the Beast” at the Wisdom Bridge Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
11 He was nominated for a 1982 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for “The Tooth of Crime” at the Remains Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
12 Shares his birthday with Larry Drake, who appeared with him in The Beast (1996).
13 He has been an ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago, Illinois, since 2008.
14 Has been portrayed in several CSI games.
15 Appears in The Skulls (2000) with Hill Harper. Harper currently co- stars in CSI: NY (2004), the spin-off of Petersen’s series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000).
16 Has performed at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago.
17 Turned down a major part in Michael Mann’s Heat (1995).
18 Owns the rights of James Ellroy’s crime novel “Clandestine”.
19 An avid Chicago Cubs fan, he sings “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field every year and also narrated the documentary Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy (2001) about Wrigley Field.
20 Was 33 years old when Manhunter (1986) was released. When the film’s remake, Red Dragon (2002), was released, his Will Graham successor, Edward Norton, was also 33 years old.
21 Played Missy Crider’s father in the miniseries The Beast (1996). Crider later appeared in the second-season premiere of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000).
22 Because his role in Manhunter (1986) was so emotionally exhausting, he did everything he could to rid himself of the Will Graham character after filming was completed. This included cutting his hair and dyeing it blonde, and shaving off his beard.
23 Declined the offer to produce CSI: Miami (2002), the spin-off of his series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000).
24 Has played two characters with the surname “Walker.” He played Gideon Walker in Return to Lonesome Dove (1993) and Steve Walker in Fear (1996).
25 Co-presented an award at the 2004 Emmys with Dennis Franz, whose former NYPD Blue (1993) co-star, David Caruso, stars in CSI: Miami (2002), the spin-off of Petersen’s series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000).
26 Was cast in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) after Gary Sinise declined the part. Sinise became the star of CSI: NY (2004), which is the spin-off of Petersen’s series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000).
27 Calls Long Gone (1987) the most fun he ever had making a movie. He made it instead of appearing in Platoon (1986).
28 Was offered a role in Platoon (1986), but turned it down because it was a low-paying job. The prospect of going to the Philippines for weeks of training before filming did not appeal to him either.
29 One CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) plotline had him pursuing an insane killer played by Tom Noonan, who also played the titular insane killer in Manhunter (1986).
30 He has one grandchild named Mazrik William (born October 2003).
31 He has a production company called High Horse (with friend & fellow CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) producer Cynthia Chvatal).
32 Started at Idaho State University on a football scholarship, where he found acting.
33 In March 2002, he became engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Gina Cirone, a biology teacher. The two married in Petrignano, Italy, in 2003.
34 Attended the renowned Steppenwolf Company.
35 Testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on increased funding for crime labs.
36 Daughter named Maite Nerea, born in 1975, in Mondragón (País Vasco, Spain).
37 Attended Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho. He wears his old football jersey from that school in most of his movies.

Producer

Title Year Status Character
Hurt People TV Movie executive producer announced
CSI: Immortality 2015 TV Movie executive producer
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV Series executive producer – 231 episodes, 2004 – 2015 producer – 42 episodes, 2000 – 2012 co-executive producer – 36 episodes, 2002 – 2004 supervising producer – 6 episodes, 2002
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2003 Video Game co-executive producer – as William Peterson
Keep the Change 1992 TV Movie producer – as William L. Petersen
Hard Promises 1991 producer – as William L. Petersen

Actor

Title Year Status Character
Hurt People TV Movie announced Hollis Brown
Manhattan 2015 TV Series Col. Emmett Darrow
CSI: Immortality 2015 TV Movie Gil Grissom
Blue 2013 TV Series Mitch
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2000-2013 TV Series Gil Grissom
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World 2012 Trucker
Detachment 2011 Mr. Sarge Kepler
Without a Trace 2007 TV Series Gil Grissom
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Hard Evidence 2007 Video Game Gilbert ‘Gil’ Grissom (voice, as William L. Petersen)
CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder 2006 Video Game Gil Grissom (voice, as William L. Petersen)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Dark Motives 2004 Video Game CSI Head Investigator Gilbert ‘Gil’ Grissom (voice)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2003 Video Game Gil Grissom (voice)
Haven 2001 TV Movie Jackson Connolly
The Contender 2000 Jack Hathaway
The Skulls 2000 Ames Levritt
Kiss the Sky 1998 Jeff (as William L. Petersen)
The Rat Pack 1998 TV Movie John F. Kennedy
The Staircase 1998 TV Movie Joad
Gunshy 1998 Jake Bridges
12 Angry Men 1997 TV Movie Juror #12
The Beast 1996 TV Mini-Series Whip Dalton
Mulholland Falls 1996 Jack Flynn, Mafia Mobster (uncredited)
Fear 1996 Steve Walker
Present Tense, Past Perfect 1995 TV Short Jack (as William L. Petersen)
Fallen Angels 1995 TV Series George
In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King 1995 Tony C.
Return to Lonesome Dove 1993 TV Mini-Series Captain Gideon Walker Capt. Gideon Walker Gideon Walker
Curacao 1993 TV Movie Stephen Guerin
Keep the Change 1992 TV Movie Joe Starling (as William L. Petersen)
Passed Away 1992 Frank Scanlan
Hard Promises 1991 Joey (as William L. Petersen)
Young Guns II 1990 Patrick Floyd ‘Pat’ Garrett
The Kennedys of Massachusetts 1990 TV Mini-Series Joseph P. Kennedy
Cousins 1989 Tom
Long Gone 1987 TV Movie Cecil ‘Stud’ Cantrell (as William L. Petersen)
Amazing Grace and Chuck 1987 Russell (as William L. Petersen)
Manhunter 1986 Will Graham
The Twilight Zone 1986 TV Series Edward Sayers (segment “Need to Know”)
To Live and Die in L.A. 1985 Richard Chance (as William L. Petersen)
Thief 1981 Katz & Jammer Bartender (as William L. Peterson)

Self

Title Year Status Character
Manhunter: The Mind of Madness – An Interview with William Petersen 2016 Video documentary short Himself
Entertainment Tonight 2006-2015 TV Series Himself
Séries express 2009 TV Series Himself
TV Land Moguls 2009 TV Mini-Series documentary Himself
The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards 2008 TV Special Himself – Presenter: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
TMZ on TV 2008 TV Series Himself
The 22nd Annual Genesis Awards 2008 TV Special Himself
Caiga quien caiga 2008 TV Series Himself
CBS Cares 2001-2008 TV Series Himself
The 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 2006 TV Special Himself (as William L. Petersen)
The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2006 TV Movie documentary Himself – Presenter: Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
The 32nd Annual People’s Choice Awards 2006 TV Special documentary Himself
11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards 2005 TV Special Himself
The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 2004 TV Special Himself – Presenter: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly’s Los Angeles 2004 Video documentary Narrator (as William L. Petersen)
This Old Cub 2004 Documentary Himself (as William L. Petersen)
10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards 2004 TV Special Himself
CBS at 75 2003 TV Special documentary Himself (as William L. Petersen)
Counterfeit World: Making ‘To Live and Die in L.A.’ 2003 Video documentary short Himself
The GQ Men of the Year Awards 2003 TV Movie documentary Himself (as William L. Petersen)
The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 2003 TV Special Himself – Presenter (as William L. Petersen)
The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 2002 TV Special Himself (as William L. Petersen)
Larry King Live 2002 TV Series Himself
The 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 2001 TV Special
The Directors 2001 TV Series documentary Himself
Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy 2001 Video Himself (Narrator) (as William L. Petersen)
Inside ‘Manhunter’ 2001 Video documentary short Himself (as William L. Petersen)
Late Show with David Letterman 2001 TV Series Himself
3rd Annual TV Guide Awards 2001 TV Special Himself – Winner
The Rosie O’Donnell Show 2000 TV Series Himself
Today 1990 TV Series Himself

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
Entertainment Tonight 2015 TV Series Himself
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2009-2015 TV Series Gil Grissom
De ‘Los Serrano’ a ‘Cuenta atrás’ 2007 TV Movie Gil Grissom
Just the Facts 2004 TV Movie documentary Cast of ‘C.S.I.’
Joe Bob’s Drive-In Theater 1995 TV Series Stephen Guerin
The Ultimate Stuntman: A Tribute to Dar Robinson 1987 TV Movie documentary Himself

Won Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2009 Star on the Walk of Fame Walk of Fame Television Awarded on February 3, 2009 at 6667 Hollywood Blvd.
2005 Actor Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2001 Alan J. Pakula Award Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards The Contender (2000)

Nominated Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2005 PGA Award PGA Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2004 Golden Globe Golden Globes, USA Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2004 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2004 PGA Award PGA Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2004 Actor Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2003 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2003 PGA Award PGA Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2003 Actor Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2002 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2002 Golden Satellite Award Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2002 Actor Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
2001 TV Guide Award TV Guide Awards Actor of the Year in a New Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)

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