William Petersen

Because his role in Manhunter (1986) was so emotionally exhausting, he did everything he could to rid himself of the character Will Graham after filming was completed. This included cutting his hair and dyeing this blonde, and shaving off his beard.
Testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on increased funding for crime labs.
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).
Calls Long Gone (1987) the most fun he ever had making a movie. He made it instead of appearing in Platoon (1986).
Has one daughter named Maite Nerea (born 1975) in Mondragón (País Vasco, Spain).

(On seeing the Marlon Brando movie, Last Tango in Paris (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".
"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)).
"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).
"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")
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.