William Petersen Explains Why He Is Leaving CSI
After 9 years on CSI, actor William Petersen is ready to take more difficult challenges. Petersen says he is tired of playing Gil Grissom and not even money can make him change his mind this time.
Petersen says: “It’s ‘CSI’ they pay me a lot of money, and I don’t have to work very hard anymore. I’ve got it all figured out. And I just realized, God, as an artist, I’m going to atrophy.
You do anything for nine years, it becomes somewhat rote. I didn’t want to be on the show because they were paying me money and I liked the money. I didn’t want to be on the show because it saved me from having to go look for other jobs. Just didn’t want it. It was too safe for me at this point. So I needed to try and break that, and the way to do that, for me, is the theater.”
From producer to executive producer, Petersen has been planning the best way to leave the show after Sarah (Jorja Fox) left Vegas and Warricks (Gary Dourdan) tragic death.
“I won’t miss Grissom,” says Petersen matter-of-factly. “It was a complete life for me that’s reached its end, and it’s reached it in the right way, I think. So I won’t miss Grissom. And I hope that the audience won’t miss him either.”
I will miss Grissom, Ill miss Warrick more! Actor Laurence Fishburne is set to replace Grissom and he knows it will be a difficult job but he is not scared at all about the reaction of CSI die-hard fans.
Adds Fishburne, “Billy was the daddy of the whole thing and Daddy was leaving. Then in comes Uncle Fish. A lot of people didn’t know what to expect.”
I think it will be a nice change to have such a badass actor on the CSI night shift team. Cant wait to see Uncle Fish kicking Catherines (Marg Helgenberger) ass!!
[Images by WENN]
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Hi I live in the beautiful land of SA and we are currently watching season 9 of csi Las Vagas, I am so sad that Grisson is leaving , I totally love his character to bits, but I respect his decision as an individual and as the best and 1 of the most brilliant actors of out time. I wish you all the luck and happiness and love for your future. Go well Mr William Peterson (Grissom)
The man replacing William has to be an “intelligent” man as CSI work is mostly technical. I think William has big shoes to fill. I will definitely miss him too.
I miss Grissom, but I hope Wialliam has a good future. Must admit that I was also very sad when Gary left. Good luck to you all – I think CSI Las Vegas and CSI New York are two of the best series that ever came across the TV!
I am not watching CSI because he left… the movie sucks without Girssom
and I am not going to until he’s back
After seeing a full season of CSI without Grissom, William Peterson, I think the show has gotten worse. I like the new character played by Lawrence Fishburn , but I wish he would come back. I think the show would be better with both of them on it.
i have recently watched all the episodes and finf grisom so fasinatinng to watch, he so perfersional and the new csi ain as good. i perfer grisom in csi
Please get petersen back. Thousands miss him and no longer watch the show, including me. Whats the matter with you folks? Harold
I MISS GRISSOM SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t even disgribe how much it hurts! but I know that he ( you ) will have a great life ahead of him ( you.) CSI: is NOT THE SAME AT ALL!!!!!!!! it’s still a great show, but it needs Grissom back!!!!!!!!!!!! Lawrence Fishbune plays a good roll, I guess!! but GRISSOM needs to come back!!!!!!! if you are reading this ( Billy ) please try to come back for at least one more season, or at least just to vist! I’M YOUR BIGGEST FAN EVER!!! LOVE Brianna! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
please rite back GRISSOM!!!!!!! THAT WOULD BE MY DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey GRISSOM it’s Brianna again!!!!!!!!! Are you going to rite back?? I LOVE YOU!!!!!!! Hugs and Kisses Brianna!!!!!!!!! Please rite back!! luv ya
Brianna,
Mr. Petersen does not read this site. I am sorry, but he won’t be writing you back from what you post here. I don’t know how to get in touch with him. You might try searching for a fan club.
Daisy, Thank you for writing back to me!!!! It means a lot!!!! You are very nice,So if you can keep talking to me, That would be awesome. Thanks again!!! So what do you think about GRISSOM!!!???????????? Do you LOVE CSI:???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? PLEASE WRITE BACK!!!!!!!!!!
Are you there rite now??
Hi Brianna,
I don’t watch CSI to be honest. I’ve seen it a couple of times, but it wasn’t really my thing. Sorry!
Hey Daisy,Sorry I didn’t get back to you, ( BUSY )!!!!! So how do you know if Williom Petersen does not read this site???????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please Rite Back THANKS!!!!! Brianna!
Daisy,PLEASE RITE BACK!!! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Brianna!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Sorry, Briana.
I saw your comment yesterday and got busy and forgot to respond.
The reason I think he doesn’t read our site is he doesn’t strike me as someone who is that concerned about what’s written about him online. His agents and publicists probably read it, but I doubt he does. I could be wrong, but he doesn’t have a verified twitter (that I know of) so I’m not sure he’s really into the web.
Daisy, That’s a great comment!! thanks for responding! So way do you not like CSI:? What didn’t intrested you? Cause I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! But you probabaly know that!!!! Hahahahahahaha!!!! Please rite back,THANKS!!!
I miss the character Grissom, he MADE the show…its just not the same. I do enjoy the person who took over, he is a good actor, but I loved Williams portrayal of Grissom…it was unique. He may have gotten tired of his role as Grissom but many have not.
I miss him toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo but do u watch CSI:??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t watch CSI too much. Occasionally I catch a rerun but it’s pretty rare. Sorry
It’s ok – I just don’t care for police procedural shows all that much.
I STILL miss WILLIAM PETERSEN as Grissom. Thank goodness for reruns !!!!!! I boycotted CSI for some time. Watch it occasionally now. Good luck, William Petersen, hope to see you in front of a camera again soon on something.
I’ve just been re-reading Wm. Petersens comments after he left CSI,and I can’t believe it’s the same person, talk about mixed messages. It’s one thing to admit that it was good money and he didn’t have to work hard anymore, but to say he was going to atrophy (waste) and he wouldn’t miss ‘Grissom’ is very disappointing. It was ‘Grissom’ that gave him a very healthy income for 10yrs, made him popular, and helped to get him a flag on the Walk of Fame, so what – it gets wet when it rains and people walk all over it………….
I was so sad when William (Grissom) left the show