Birthplace: Evanston, IL
Birthdate: Feb. 21, 1953
Nick Names: Billy, Bill
Height: 5' 11"
Marital Status: Divorced from Joanne Brady, Married Gina Cirone on June 14, 2003.
Children: Maite, born in 1975
Current residence: Los Angeles, CA
Favorite residence: Chicago, IL
Other:Athletic leading man William Petersen began acting in Chicago, where he was a regular with the Remains Theatre. His first significant success was in the role of author/murderer Jack Henry Abbott in a stage adaptation of Abbott's The Belly of the Beast. This led to his film debut as a scuzzy Secret Service agent in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). In 1987, Petersen starred in his first made-for-TV film, an enjoyable baseball yarn entitled Long Gone, in which he appeared with fellow Chicagoan Virginia Madsen. He appeared in several television and movie projects during the '90s before landing the starring role in the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2000. Attended Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho. He wears his his old football jersey from that school in most of his movies. Daughter named Mai-Tae, born in 1975. Testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on increased funding for crime labs. Attended the renowned Steppenwolf Company. Engaged to Gina Cirone, a biology teacher. [March 2002] Started at Idaho State U on a football scholarship. That's where he found acting. He is the youngest of 6 siblings. Ran away when he was fifteen to live with his brother in Idaho. He spent time in an Idaho jail cell in the early '70s for drugs. He was frequently homeless. "Basically, I lived as a freak." His dream is to one day be Mayor of Chicago and his ties to the city remain firm.He has his own production company, High Horse Films. William Petersen and his girlfriend of seven years, Chicago Biology teacher Gina Cirone, are engaged.
"When I'm in my house, I'm on the couch watching ESPN -- at best having a sandwich. I don't go out. I do nothing. I'm exhausted all the time because the work is everything."
