William Petersen

This intense player became interested in acting while attending college on a football scholarship. Petersen initially worked on the Chicago theater scene and even started his own avant-garde company, the Remains Theater Ensemble in 1979. In the '80s, this athletic performer segued to film and TV roles, often playing obsessive law enforcement officials. Although born and bred in Illinois, Petersen had the charisma (if not the accent) to play two members of the Kennedy clan, Joseph in the 1990 miniseries The Kennedys of Massachusetts and John F. in the 1998 TV-movie The Rat Pack. Yet Petersen didn't become a full-fledged star until 2000 when he signed on to produce and star in the original CSI franchise as a sexy Las Vegas criminologist.William Petersen Fast Facts:

• Attended Idaho State University on a football scholarship.
• An avid Chicago Cubs fan.
• Has a production company with Cynthia Chvatal called High Horse.
• Made his Broadway debut on March 21, 1996, in a revival of Tennessee Williams' play The Night of the Iguana.
• A great TV criminologist on CSI, he wasn't much of a science student in school. "Terrible," he told TV Guide in 2003. "I'm not sure I ever passed a science test... I didn't see it applying to my life in any way."

• William Petersen Relationships:
• Gina Cirone - Wife
• Joanne Brady - Ex-wife
• Maite Petersen - Daughter
• William Petersen Awards:
• 2004 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
• 2002 Emmy: Outstanding Drama Series - Nominee
• 2003 Emmy: Outstanding Drama Series - Nominee
• 2004 Emmy: Outstanding Drama Series - Nominee
• College:
• Attended Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID