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When discussing procedural dramas, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation inevitably comes to mind. This CBS TV series, which debuted in 2000, has become a cornerstone of television, spawning a highly successful franchise. Over its 15 seasons, the show followed a team of crime-scene investigators in the Las Vegas Police Department, combining investigative skills and science to solve murders.
CSI garnered widespread popularity and critical acclaim, receiving numerous awards, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards and six Golden Globe nominations. Riding on its success, CBS introduced spin-offs like CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, CSI: Cyber, and the 2021 revival, CSI: Vegas, featuring actors from the original cast.
As the show gears up for its third season in February, both returning and new cast members have continued to stay active in the industry, participating in various significant projects. Let’s explore what the current CSI cast is up to in their careers.
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William Petersen as Gil Grissom
For nine seasons, William Petersen played the lead role of Gil Grissom, a forensic entomologist with the Las Vegas Police Department, on the hit show CSI. This iconic role earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe nomination, and praise for his work as an executive producer. Petersen left the main cast after the ninth season to focus on stage acting but made guest appearances, including the finale.
Following his time on CSI, Petersen took on various roles in plays, with limited involvement in film and TV. In 2012, he starred alongside Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in the film Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, which didn’t meet box office expectations. Three years later, he joined the cast of the TV series Manhattan for its second season. Petersen’s most recent project is the CSI revival, CSI: Vegas, where he not only serves as an executive producer but also reprises his beloved role as Gil Grissom.
Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows
Marg Helgenberger achieved widespread recognition for her portrayal of Catherine Willows, a blood-spatter analyst who worked her way up to head of the crime lab in the popular TV series CSI. However, prior to this iconic role, Helgenberger gained acclaim for her performance on the ABC drama China Beach, winning an Emmy Award and receiving a Golden Globe nomination. After her 12-season run on CSI, she took a hiatus to explore opportunities in theater, film, and television, featuring in productions like Almost Friends and A Dog’s Journey. In 2019, she joined the cast of All Rise, a CBS legal drama that ran for three seasons. Helgenberger later reprised her role in the CSI franchise with CSI: Vegas during its second season.
George Eads as Nick Stokes
George Eads, the sole actor from the main CSI cast to appear in all seasons, opted out of the TV movie concluding the series due to a dispute with a writer. Consequently, he concluded his portrayal of crime scene investigator Nick Stokes in the 15th season, where the character relocates to San Diego for a better job opportunity.
After many years in the role, Nick Stokes became Eads’ most iconic character. Following his departure from CSI, the actor joined the primary cast of the CBS reboot MacGyver, playing Jack Dalton for three seasons before leaving to prioritize family time. His latest television appearance was in 2020, guest-starring as a football coach in two episodes of Dan Fogelman’s drama series This Is Us.
Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle
Jorja Fox is best known for her role as analyst Sara Sidle on CSI, where she had an on-again, off-again relationship with Gil Grissom. She was a main cast member until Season 8, made cameo appearances, and returned as a regular from Season 11 until the finale. However, her most significant role prior to CSI was as Dr. Doyle on ER and Gina Toscano on The West Wing.
After CSI, Fox had a diverse career, engaging in activism for vegetarianism and animal welfare. She also ventured into stage production and appeared in films like 3022 and The Map of Tiny Perfect Things. In 2021, she joined the cast of CSI: Vegas in its first season, reprising her role as Sara Sidle, following her on-screen partner’s lead.
Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown
Gary Dourdan portrayed Warrick Brown for nine years on CSI, a character who, as an analyst and recovered gambling addict, met a tragic end after being wrongly accused of a crime early in the show’s ninth season. Despite leaving CSI, Dourdan remained active in the entertainment industry, securing recurring roles in TV series like Being Mary Jane and First Wives Club. He also took on roles in films such as Kinky (2018) and Redemption Day (2021). His most recent TV appearance was as a guest in the second season of And Just Like That…, the sequel to Sex and the City, which is currently anticipating its third season.
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Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders
Similar to Eads, Eric Szmanda had a lengthy tenure on the CSI series, remaining part of the cast from the beginning to the end. However, Szmanda’s character, Greg Sanders, transitioned from a lab technician to an official investigator after the third season, solidifying his role as a main character for the show’s 16-year run. Despite taking on occasional supporting roles in films during his time on CSI, Szmanda didn’t appear in many projects after the show concluded. His most notable post-CSI role was in the 2018 TV movie “Near Extinction: Shangri-La.” Recently, Eric made a return to television by reprising his iconic role in the second season of the CSI revival earlier this year.
Robert David Hall as Dr. Al Robbins
Robert David Hall’s CSI journey mirrors Szmanda’s, as he initially appeared as the recurring character Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Al Robbins in the first two seasons before becoming a main cast member. Before joining this popular franchise, Hall had roles in films like Starship Troopers and Once Upon a Forest, and he also guest-starred on TV shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Practice.
Throughout his tenure on CSI, Hall remained active in various projects. In addition to his on-screen work, he lent his voice to characters in animated series like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Ben 10. His final TV appearance, as of the latest information available, was in the finale of CSI.
Paul Guilfoyle as Captain Jim Brass
Paul Guilfoyle portrayed LVPD Captain Jim Brass for 14 seasons, returning for the original show’s finale and a few episodes of the 2021 revival. Beyond his extensive pre-“CSI” career in film, theater, and TV, Guilfoyle continued to diversify his projects. Post-“CSI,” he secured recurring roles in Colony and The Good Fight, guest-starring in series like Blindspot, The Morning Show, and Star Trek: Discovery. Additionally, he took on roles in films like Don’t Look Up and The Good House. His latest on-screen appearance was in Sergio Dow’s thriller film, The Man from Rome, released last year. Guilfoyle remains actively engaged in the entertainment industry.
Wallace Langham as David Hodges
Wallace Langham became a part of the CSI cast in its third season, portraying lab technician David Hodges. He continued as a main cast member from the eighth season onward. Prior to his CSI role, Langham had gained recognition for his roles in Veronica’s Closet and The Larry Sanders Show. Post-CSI, he secured roles in notable films like Battle of the Sexes and Ford v Ferrari, but focused primarily on television projects. Recently, he made guest appearances on shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, The Boys, and Shameless. Langham also had recurring roles in the first season of Apple TV+’s For All Mankind and CSI: Vegas. He joined the cast of HBO’s Perry Mason for its second season earlier this year, but unfortunately, the production was canceled shortly thereafter.
Laurence Fishburne as Ray Langston
Closing out this lineup is Laurence Fishburne, who became part of the CSI cast in its ninth season, taking on the role of Ray Langston to fill the gap left by William Petersen’s departure from the project. Fishburne, already a renowned actor, had gained praise from both critics and audiences for his performances in iconic films like The Matrix series, Apocalypse Now, and What’s Love Got to Do with It. Following his time on CSI, Fishburne’s career continued to thrive.
In more recent times, he featured in blockbuster projects like Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp and the John Wick film series, reuniting with Keanu Reeves after an extended period. Additionally, Fishburne served as the narrator for the mockumentaries Death to 2020 and Death to 2021. Notably, he co-created and produced the 2023 series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, where he not only reprised his role as Bill Foster but also took on the character of the Beyonder. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is available for streaming on Hulu and Paramount+.
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