Gil Grissom
Encyclopedia
Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom, (Ph.D.
) is a fictional character
on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
, portrayed by William Petersen
. Grissom was a forensic entomologist
and the night-shift supervisor of the Clark County, Nevada
CSI (forensics
) team, investigating crimes in and around the city of Las Vegas
. He was the show's protagonist
from seasons 1 to 9, when Petersen left the show as a regular, and was replaced by Laurence Fishburne
as Dr. Raymond Langston
(M.D.
).
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
producer and writer Carol Mendelsohn
considers Grissom the center of the show, and in the first seven years of the show he appeared in every episode, with the exception of "Hollywood Brass", from season five
, "Gum Drops" and "The Unusual Suspect" from season six
, and "Sweet Jane" and "Redrum" from season seven
. In early season 6 he became romantically involved with subordinate CSI Sara Sidle
.
Grissom has received positive responses from critics, ranking number 82 on Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters
list, along with Catherine Willows
. Grissom's final episode as a regular drew over 23 million viewers.
Although Petersen has confirmed that Grissom will not return to the show as a regular , he did reprise his role for an uncredited appearance in the season eleven
episode "The Two Mrs. Grissoms." This return was kept secret until CTV
accidentally leaked the promo; since then, most copies have been pulled. He will also appear as his character in an upcoming feature film.
, who created the show, loosely based Grissom on real life Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
criminalist Daniel Holstein. Zuiker was "fascinated" by Holstein, who, like Grissom, kept maggots and pig's blood in his refrigerator. Holstein works as a consultant for the show. Zuiker originally named the character Gil Sheinbaum, but after he became part of the cast, William Petersen
requested the name to be changed, Petersen and Zuiker decided to rename the character "Grissom", after astronaut
Gus Grissom
, of whom Petersen was a great admirer. The name Gil came from one of the actor's hobbies, fishing
.
In 2000, CBS
had bought the pilot script from Zuiker, Nina Tassler
, CBS' head of drama development, passed it on to Petersen, who had a pay or play contract with the network. Petersen has said that many TV shows were offered to him over the years, but he "didn't want to get locked down". However, he was impressed with the complexity of Grissom's character, and he decided to audition. It was the second time Petersen portrayed a forensic scientist, having portrayed Will Graham
in the 1986 film Manhunter
.
on the pilot episode. After this he has appeared in almost every single episode throughout the show's eight years, except in "Hollywood Brass", from season five
, an episode that turns entirely around Jim Brass
; besides him, only three other regular characters appear.
Again, William Petersen did not appear during the season six
episode "Gum Drops". This episode was originally going to be how Grissom was convinced that an abduction victim was still alive. When Petersen's nephew died, he flew home and was unavailable for the filming of the episode, which was rewritten to be centered around Nick
.
During 2007 (CSI season seven
) William Petersen
took a break from CSI to appear in a five week run of the Trinity Repertory Company
production of Dublin Carol
in Providence, Rhode Island
, resulting in Grissom taking a sabbatical, being replaced by Liev Schreiber
, as Michael Keppler, who developed a small story arc
through "Sweet Jane", "Redrum" and "Meet Market".
Carol Mendelsohn
, one of the show's producers and writers, considers Grissom the center of the show. He does play an important role in most episodes, although he is not always the center; for example, both "Grave Danger
" episodes center around Nick
, and "The Execution of Catherine Willows", "Weeping Willows", and "Built To Kill, Part 2" all focus on Catherine
.
. Like Holmes, Grissom is dispassionate with a fierce devotion to logic and little regard for societal norms of behavior; Grissom once smashed mustard
jars in a grocery store to illustrate a theory ("I-15 Murders"), similarly, Holmes once practiced spearing a pig at a market to determine how strong a man would have to be to transfix a man with a harpoon.
Grissom possesses a Moriarty
-like nemesis, Paul Millander, whom he pursues in several episodes ("Pilot"
, "Anonymous" and "Identity Crisis"). Coincidentally, "Paul Millander" has the same initials as "Professor Moriarty." There's also a woman, Lady Heather
, in whom he takes an unusual interest, their relationship is similar to that of Irene Adler
and Holmes. Both Irene and Lady Heather enchant Holmes and Grissom with their beauty, their wit
and their resolution. Lady Heather is, almost always, wearing Victorian
dresses which are reminiscent to Holmes' era ("Slaves of Las Vegas", "Lady Heather's Box", "Pirates of the Third Reich" and "The Good, the Bad, and the Dominatrix")
has an extensive fan base
. There are more than one thousand videos made using this character in sites such as YouTube
and a thousand more depicting his relationship with Sara Sidle
.
Of more than twenty-five-thousand fan fiction
s written about CSI in FanFiction.Net
, more than half include Gil Grissom. There are also many other sites that update daily news about either Gil Grissom's status on CSI or William Petersen
's activities in real life.
The GSR ("Grissom and Sara Romance"; the abbreviation is a play on the term for gunshot residue
, often mentioned in CSI) has accumulated an extensive fan base during the years with some sites getting thousands of viewers a week. Some fans consider this "ship
" very similar to the one of Mulder
and Scully
in the X-Files. From the beginning, both shows showed a lot of chemistry between the two co-workers, leading viewers to assume that a relationship between the two would soon begin, when in fact it would take years of a platonic relationship and sexual tension for something to actually be seen, with both couples only sharing their first on-screen kiss in the eighth season of their respective shows.
On September 27, 2007, after CSIs season eight premiered, a miniature model of Gil Grissom's office (which he was seen building during season seven
) was put up for auction on eBay
. The auction ended on October 7 with the prop being sold for US$15,600, which CBS donated to the National CASA Association
.
.
Grissom's father taught botany at a local college and passed his enthusiasm for natural sciences onto his son. His father died when Grissom was 9 years old. Grissom recalls the day his father died to Catherine Willows in the episode "Still Life". "He came home from school, one hot humid day, laid down on the couch. I was watching TV, my mom brought in some cold drinks, but she couldn't wake him up. No one would tell me why." Consequently, as a young child, Grissom played doctor by performing necropsies on small, deceased animals in the local area.
Gil's mother, Betty, who was rendered deaf by the genetic disorder Otosclerosis
, was responsible for his love of books. As a result of his mother's deafness, Gil became fluent in American Sign Language
in order to be able to communicate with her.
In the earlier seasons of CSI
, it becomes clear that Gil is also beginning to suffer with the degenerative disease; however, after seeking medical treatment, the disease was prevented from developing.
In the episode "Grissom Vs. the Volcano," Catherine tells the story of losing at a science competition as a child against a "kid with some lame red ants". Later in the episode Nick also reveals that he lost a science competition and Grissom tells him to let it go. In his childhood science competition, Grissom was the kid with the ants.
In a season two
episode he told Warrick that in high school, he was a "ghost", meaning that he did not belong to any group in particular. When he was in college, Grissom financed his first body farm
with his winnings from a high stakes poker
game. At the same time, he also attended boxing
matches to learn about the patterns of bruise formations on bodies and eventual blood spatters from the injuries.
He became a forensic entomologist
. He earned his Bachelor of Science
degree in biology
magna cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), and his Ph.D. in biology from the University of Chicago
.
, stating that he used to work for him in Hennepin County
, whose seat is Minneapolis.
He became the night shift team supervisor for the Las Vegas CSI unit on the second episode of the series, after Jim Brass
got demoted following the death of co-worker Holly Gribbs.
In season seven
, Grissom took a sabbatical to teach a class at Williams College
in Williamstown, Massachusetts
for four weeks. Prior to his sabbatical, Grissom had been showing signs of "burnout
". Upon his return, however, he appears reinvigorated and tells Warrick Brown
that he "missed" Las Vegas. After the resignation of Sara Sidle
, his fiancee, from the lab, and the murder of Warrick Brown, his burnout seems to be resurfacing. This is particularly evident in Say Uncle, where, at the end of the episode, he expresses deep regret over solving a particularly depressing case.
Grissom announced his retirement just as evidence comes to light that The Dick and Jane Killer, a serial killer
from the 1990s currently serving two life sentences, did not act alone, and that his accomplice has begun killing again. Rather than leave in the middle of a case, Grissom stays on to help solve it, and ultimately proves instrumental in saving the life of a woman who would have been the killer's latest victim. The case closed, Grissom, having already had a series of one-on-one farewells with his co-workers, silently left the crime lab and departed for Costa Rica
for a reunion with fiancee Sara Sidle
, an allusion perhaps to his comments in a season one
episode that when he left, people would not throw a party for him, because he was not the sort of person who people would get deeply involved with. He also says to Warrick in season two ("Ellie") that when he left there would not be a cake in the break room—he would just pick up and leave.
During season 10, he was guest-lecturing at the Sorbonne
. In season 11, he was in Peru
consulting with the government.
However, when he began to lose his hearing, Grissom retreated into himself and lost a lot of the nerdy spark he once had. He became easily irritable and unapproachable. After his surgery, he lightened up a bit, but he has never gone back to the whimsical science nerd he once was.
to the team, but very professional in his work.
In addition to being somewhat of a polymath
beyond his career training, he exhibits Asperger
-like traits, and in a second season
episode it is hinted that, in fact, he has Asperger's syndrome. Another character on CSI who shares these kind of traits is his subordinate (and current wife), Sara Sidle
. She once insinuated that Grissom was a misanthrope when he quoted her Thoreau's Walden
.
In the season 2 episode Alter Boys, Grissom confides in a priest that he does not believe in the concept of organized religion, but does believe in the idea of God. In addition to belief in God, Grissom and Greg would later agree that scientific education should not necessarily preclude belief in occultism and other paranormal concepts.
Although he is very dedicated to his job and sometimes goes to extremes in his investigations, his unwillingness to dabble in office politics often alienates his superiors, and sometimes his subordinates. He gets a lot of help in these areas from right-hand woman Catherine Willows
, who is always trying to make him "look up from the microscope
".
Grissom claims to have never hired a prostitute for sex, stating that sex is intended to create a human emotional connection. He has also expressed distaste for carrying a firearm when in the field, a tendency that has brought several scoldings from co-worker Jim Brass
. Despite this, he has proven to have an exceptional accuracy at the firing range.
He once listed his hobbies to Lady Heather
: "I have outlets. I read. I study bugs. I sometimes even ride roller coasters". Indeed, he has proven to be a very cultured man on many occasions, having a wide knowledge of history
, literature
and art
. He often offers quotes from a variety of literary sources, including Shakespeare and Keats. Later in this same season
, he reveals himself to be a baseball
fan. Sara notes that this is typical of Grissom, saying that he would like "all those stats". However, Grissom is not too familiar with popular culture
. In Two and a Half Deaths
, Jim Brass
was talking about a TV program which he thought had already "jumped the shark
," but Grissom did not know the term. While trying to explain, Brass says, "Remember the Fonz?", which Grissom did not know either.
Being an entomologist, he has a wide and varied knowledge of insects, which he applies to his investigations. This has led to his nickname, "The Bug Man". In the beginning of the show, he was referred as "Gruesome Grissom" for his sometimes morbid fascination with the more bizarre aspects of man and nature. Grissom keeps a variety of specimens in his office, including a radiated fetal pig
, a tarantula
, and a two-headed scorpion
. He also has a bulletin board that looks like a fish on which unsolved cases go: "the ones that got away". Occasionally, he keeps evidence from closed cases (such as the models created by "The Miniature Killer
"). In season seven
, CSI newcomer Michael Keppler takes a look around Grissom's office and observes that he must be quite a freak. In "The Grave Shift", even after his office has been cleared out (and later reclaimed by a somewhat-reluctant Nick Stokes
after Catherine Willows
passed on the offer), the fetal pig in a jar was placed back in there by Hodges
, who felt that it belonged there.
When asked why he is a CSI, he responds, "Because the dead can't speak for themselves." This is one of his favorite quotes, and he uses it frequently.
Grissom may not ask to take on the role of mentor, but it seems to happen naturally, going all the way back to Sara Sidle
when they first met in San Francisco, then Nick Stokes
and Greg Sanders
in Vegas. Although he can be annoyed with his protégés at times, he is visibly proud when they succeed, as Greg did by passing his field test and becoming a CSI. He is also protective of his staff and defends them as much as he can, as seen in episode 521 ("Rashomama") for example.
He also shares a good friendship with Dr. Al Robbins
and the two were seen singing together in the autopsy room while processing the body of a murdered rock 'n' roll star (season 7, "Built to Kill, Part 2"). In the season six
finale, it was revealed that Jim Brass
's living will gave Grissom power of attorney
, showing that Grissom was the one person Brass trusted with his life. He has also been shown to be something of an inadvertent mentor-figure to David Hodges
, who looks up to him and often seeks his advice or approval, despite not always receiving it. Upon learning of Grissom's plans to quit CSI, Hodges becomes visibly upset.
His relationship with Warrick Brown
had aspects of a mentor/student bond, but out of all the CSIs (Catherine included), Grissom seemed to view Warrick as his successor, the one who would lead when he was gone.
Some fans have always expected to see a relationship between Grissom and Catherine Willows
, in whom he is shown confiding many times, once even likening her to being his "wife". The two were never more than very good friends, as the show's producers see them as more of brother and sister than lovers. Catherine has many times encouraged Grissom to be more open and less self-absorbed, and to pursue something with Sara Sidle
.
Grissom has been allegedly involved with forensic anthropologist Teri Miller and with S&M parlor operator Lady Heather
, whose "safeword
" it has been suggested that he knows - however, as all he says is "Heather, stop!" and "I'm saying Stop", he evidently does not use it, as "Stop" is never a "safeword
".
there were hints that both Sara Sidle
and Grissom were interested in each other romantically. In fact, the show's creators made Sara Sidle while thinking of a future love interest for Grissom, but during the show's first three seasons, Grissom flirted with all the female characters, and when Sara asked him out to dinner, he rejected her, claiming that he did not know what to do about what is going on between them.
In season four Grissom's true feelings are revealed in "Butterflied", an episode that centers entirely around him discovering his sentiments for Sara. It was then that he admitted not being able to risk his career to be with her. In this season Sara apparently develops a drinking problem, which Grissom acknowledges on the season finale; after this they would hardly see each other, and Grissom becomes interested in detective Sofia Curtis
.
In mid-season five, Sara is suspended for insubordination and she reveals to Grissom her tormented childhood. He refuses to fire her and has her working in every case of the next two seasons with him.
It was not until the sixth season
finale that it is revealed that Grissom and Sara have worked through whatever issues they had, and are, in fact, a couple, and have been for two years. This revelation caused mix reviews among critics, some of them see this relationship as CSI "jumping the shark
", an attempt to include more drama and romance to the show, so as to be able to compete with the medical drama
Grey's Anatomy
, which airs in the US at the same time. By killing off the sexual tension between the two characters and making them an item, the production crew were seen to be adding more personal drama to the show, increasing the appeal to some of Grey's Anatomys younger audience. This has been denied by the writers, Carol Mendelsohn
even said that she has never been able to see Grissom with someone else other than Sara and that this episode was seen by the writers as the right time to reveal the relationship, Jorja Fox
and William Petersen
have also admitted that the relationship is not new.
Throughout season seven
the audience sees Grissom and Sara as a couple, but the relationship is kept secret from the others in the lab until Sara's abduction by The Miniature Killer
in the season finale. During the 2007–2008 season, season eight, they have become engaged. In CSIs eighth season, when Jorja Fox
decided to leave the show, both she and the writers decided not to kill the character, so as to leave the doors open for a possible comeback. Consequently, Sara Sidle is submerged into depression after her kidnap in the season seven finale, and, even though she accepts Grissom's marriage proposal on the season's fourth episode, she shows signs of burnout
during the subsequent episodes, breaking down on the season's seventh episode, leaving Las Vegas and the CSIs with only a goodbye letter for Grissom and a good luck note for Ronnie Lake. In the letter she claims that ever since her father's death she has been dealing with "ghosts" and that she now needs to go away and deal with them before self-destructing.
After Grissom leaves CSI, he goes to Costa Rica, in hopes of finding Sara. Once they see each other, they embrace in a passionate kiss.
Sara's return to CSI in the first episode of Season Ten reveals that she and Grissom are now married.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
) is a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, portrayed by William Petersen
William Petersen
William Louis Petersen is an American actor and producer, best known for playing Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom on the hit CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He portrayed President John F...
. Grissom was a forensic entomologist
Forensic entomology
Forensic entomology is the application and study of insect and other arthropod biology to criminal matters. It is primarily associated with death investigations; however, it may also be used to detect drugs and poisons, determine the location of an incident, and find the presence and time of the...
and the night-shift supervisor of the Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
CSI (forensics
Forensics
Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action...
) team, investigating crimes in and around the city of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. He was the show's protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
from seasons 1 to 9, when Petersen left the show as a regular, and was replaced by Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne
Laurence John Fishburne III is an American film and stage actor, playwright, director, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Morpheus in the Matrix science fiction film trilogy, as Cowboy Curtis on the 1980's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse, and as singer-musician Ike Turner...
as Dr. Raymond Langston
Raymond Langston
Raymond "Ray" Langston, M.D. is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Laurence Fishburne. He joined the show in the ninth season, after the departure of Gil Grissom, played by William Petersen...
(M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
).
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
producer and writer Carol Mendelsohn
Carol Mendelsohn
Carol Mendelsohn is a TV writer, notable for her work on the crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.-Education:Mendelsohn grew up in Chicago. She attended the Latin School Of Chicago. Also she went to Smith College, but later transferred and in 1973 graduated from Cornell University...
considers Grissom the center of the show, and in the first seven years of the show he appeared in every episode, with the exception of "Hollywood Brass", from season five
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 5)
The fifth season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 23, 2004 and ended May 19, 2005.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-External links:* at TVShowsOnDVD.com....
, "Gum Drops" and "The Unusual Suspect" from season six
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 6)
The sixth season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005 and ended May 18, 2006.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-External links:* at TVShowsOnDVD.com....
, and "Sweet Jane" and "Redrum" from season seven
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 7)
The seventh season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 21, 2006 and ended May 17, 2007.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-References:...
. In early season 6 he became romantically involved with subordinate CSI Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by actress Jorja Fox. Sidle is a forensic scientist and one of the core characters of the show, which revolves around a crime scene investigation team from Clark County, Nevada that investigates...
.
Grissom has received positive responses from critics, ranking number 82 on Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters
Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters
"Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters" is a TV special aired on Bravo on Thanksgiving in 2004. It counted down the 100 greatest TV characters based on the results from a poll conducted over the Internet with consumers...
list, along with Catherine Willows
Catherine Willows
Catherine Willows is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Marg Helgenberger, who has received two Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for the role...
. Grissom's final episode as a regular drew over 23 million viewers.
Although Petersen has confirmed that Grissom will not return to the show as a regular , he did reprise his role for an uncredited appearance in the season eleven
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 11)
The eleventh season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 23, 2010 and ended May 12, 2011.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:- U.S. Nielsen Ratings :-External links:...
episode "The Two Mrs. Grissoms." This return was kept secret until CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
accidentally leaked the promo; since then, most copies have been pulled. He will also appear as his character in an upcoming feature film.
Creation and development
Anthony E. ZuikerAnthony E. Zuiker
Anthony E. Zuiker is the creator and executive producer of the American television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He produces all three editions of the CSI franchise: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY...
, who created the show, loosely based Grissom on real life Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is a joint city-county police force for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is run by the Sheriff of Clark County, elected every four years. The current Sheriff of Clark County is Douglas C...
criminalist Daniel Holstein. Zuiker was "fascinated" by Holstein, who, like Grissom, kept maggots and pig's blood in his refrigerator. Holstein works as a consultant for the show. Zuiker originally named the character Gil Sheinbaum, but after he became part of the cast, William Petersen
William Petersen
William Louis Petersen is an American actor and producer, best known for playing Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom on the hit CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He portrayed President John F...
requested the name to be changed, Petersen and Zuiker decided to rename the character "Grissom", after astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
Gus Grissom
Gus Grissom
Virgil Ivan Grissom , , better known as Gus Grissom, was one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a United States Air Force pilot...
, of whom Petersen was a great admirer. The name Gil came from one of the actor's hobbies, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
.
In 2000, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
had bought the pilot script from Zuiker, Nina Tassler
Nina Tassler
Nina Tassler is an American television executive, a graduate of Boston University , and holds the position of President of CBS Entertainment since September 2004....
, CBS' head of drama development, passed it on to Petersen, who had a pay or play contract with the network. Petersen has said that many TV shows were offered to him over the years, but he "didn't want to get locked down". However, he was impressed with the complexity of Grissom's character, and he decided to audition. It was the second time Petersen portrayed a forensic scientist, having portrayed Will Graham
Will Graham
Will Graham is a fictional character and the main protagonist in Thomas Harris' 1981 novel Red Dragon. He is an FBI profiler responsible for the original capture of the serial killer Hannibal Lecter and the man who is assigned to locate killer Francis Dolarhyde.Although successful, Graham is...
in the 1986 film Manhunter
Manhunter (film)
Manhunter is a 1986 American thriller film based on Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon. Written and directed by Michael Mann, it stars William Petersen as Will Graham and features Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecktor...
.
Appearances
Gil Grissom first appears in CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
on the pilot episode. After this he has appeared in almost every single episode throughout the show's eight years, except in "Hollywood Brass", from season five
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 5)
The fifth season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 23, 2004 and ended May 19, 2005.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-External links:* at TVShowsOnDVD.com....
, an episode that turns entirely around Jim Brass
Jim Brass
James "Jim" Brass is a fictional character from the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Paul Guilfoyle. Jim appeared in every episode, with exception of "Felonious Monk" from season two, "Gum Drops" and "The Unusual Suspect" from season six, "Leaving Las Vegas" from season...
; besides him, only three other regular characters appear.
Again, William Petersen did not appear during the season six
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 6)
The sixth season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005 and ended May 18, 2006.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-External links:* at TVShowsOnDVD.com....
episode "Gum Drops". This episode was originally going to be how Grissom was convinced that an abduction victim was still alive. When Petersen's nephew died, he flew home and was unavailable for the filming of the episode, which was rewritten to be centered around Nick
Nick Stokes
Nicholas "Nick" Stokes is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by George Eads. Nick has appeared in every episode except for "Blood Lust" from season three, "Jackpot" and "Butterflied" from season four, "Committed" from season five, and "Spellbound"...
.
During 2007 (CSI season seven
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 7)
The seventh season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 21, 2006 and ended May 17, 2007.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-References:...
) William Petersen
William Petersen
William Louis Petersen is an American actor and producer, best known for playing Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom on the hit CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He portrayed President John F...
took a break from CSI to appear in a five week run of the Trinity Repertory Company
Trinity Repertory Company
Trinity Repertory Company is a non-profit regional theater located in Providence, Rhode Island. The theater is a member of the League of Resident Theatres. Founded in 1963, the theater is "one of the most respected regional theatres in the country"...
production of Dublin Carol
Dublin Carol
Dublin Carol is a three-handed play by Conor McPherson-Story:John, a middle-aged employee of a funeral home in Dublin, returns from a funeral on Christmas Eve with Mark, a 20-year-old who has helped out that day and to whom John tells his sad history about how he has destroyed much of his life and...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, resulting in Grissom taking a sabbatical, being replaced by Liev Schreiber
Liev Schreiber
Isaac Liev Schreiber , commonly known as Liev Schreiber, is an American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. He became known during the late 1990s and early 2000s, having initially appeared in several independent films, and later mainstream Hollywood films, including the Scream trilogy of...
, as Michael Keppler, who developed a small story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
through "Sweet Jane", "Redrum" and "Meet Market".
Carol Mendelsohn
Carol Mendelsohn
Carol Mendelsohn is a TV writer, notable for her work on the crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.-Education:Mendelsohn grew up in Chicago. She attended the Latin School Of Chicago. Also she went to Smith College, but later transferred and in 1973 graduated from Cornell University...
, one of the show's producers and writers, considers Grissom the center of the show. He does play an important role in most episodes, although he is not always the center; for example, both "Grave Danger
Grave Danger
"Grave Danger" is the name of the fifth season finale of the American crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which is set in Las Vegas, Nevada...
" episodes center around Nick
Nick Stokes
Nicholas "Nick" Stokes is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by George Eads. Nick has appeared in every episode except for "Blood Lust" from season three, "Jackpot" and "Butterflied" from season four, "Committed" from season five, and "Spellbound"...
, and "The Execution of Catherine Willows", "Weeping Willows", and "Built To Kill, Part 2" all focus on Catherine
Catherine Willows
Catherine Willows is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Marg Helgenberger, who has received two Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for the role...
.
Parallelism with Sherlock Holmes
Gil Grissom has a more than passing similarity to Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
. Like Holmes, Grissom is dispassionate with a fierce devotion to logic and little regard for societal norms of behavior; Grissom once smashed mustard
Mustard (condiment)
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
jars in a grocery store to illustrate a theory ("I-15 Murders"), similarly, Holmes once practiced spearing a pig at a market to determine how strong a man would have to be to transfix a man with a harpoon.
Grissom possesses a Moriarty
Professor Moriarty
Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character and the archenemy of the detective Sherlock Holmes in the fiction of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Moriarty is a criminal mastermind, described by Holmes as the "Napoleon of Crime". Doyle lifted the phrase from a real Scotland Yard inspector who was...
-like nemesis, Paul Millander, whom he pursues in several episodes ("Pilot"
The Pilot (CSI episode)
"Pilot" is the pilot of the American crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation which is set in Las Vegas, Nevada. It originally aired as episode 1 of Season 1 on October 6, 2000.-Plot:...
, "Anonymous" and "Identity Crisis"). Coincidentally, "Paul Millander" has the same initials as "Professor Moriarty." There's also a woman, Lady Heather
Lady Heather
Heather Kessler, also known as Lady Heather, is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Melinda Clarke....
, in whom he takes an unusual interest, their relationship is similar to that of Irene Adler
Irene Adler
Irene Adler is a fictional character featured in the Sherlock Holmes story "A Scandal in Bohemia" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in July 1891...
and Holmes. Both Irene and Lady Heather enchant Holmes and Grissom with their beauty, their wit
Wit
Wit is a form of intellectual humour, and a wit is someone skilled in making witty remarks. Forms of wit include the quip and repartee.-Forms of wit:...
and their resolution. Lady Heather is, almost always, wearing Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
dresses which are reminiscent to Holmes' era ("Slaves of Las Vegas", "Lady Heather's Box", "Pirates of the Third Reich" and "The Good, the Bad, and the Dominatrix")
Public reaction
This fictional characterFictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
has an extensive fan base
Fandom
Fandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest...
. There are more than one thousand videos made using this character in sites such as YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and a thousand more depicting his relationship with Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by actress Jorja Fox. Sidle is a forensic scientist and one of the core characters of the show, which revolves around a crime scene investigation team from Clark County, Nevada that investigates...
.
Of more than twenty-five-thousand fan fiction
Fan fiction
Fan fiction is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator...
s written about CSI in FanFiction.Net
FanFiction.Net
FanFiction.Net is an automated fan fiction archive site. It was founded in late 1998 by Los Angeles computer programmer Xing Li, who also runs the site. The first fics to be posted were a few stories about Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
, more than half include Gil Grissom. There are also many other sites that update daily news about either Gil Grissom's status on CSI or William Petersen
William Petersen
William Louis Petersen is an American actor and producer, best known for playing Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom on the hit CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He portrayed President John F...
's activities in real life.
The GSR ("Grissom and Sara Romance"; the abbreviation is a play on the term for gunshot residue
Gunshot residue
Gunshot residue is principally composed of burnt and unburnt particles from the explosive primer, the propellant, as well as components from the bullet, the cartridge case and the firearm used...
, often mentioned in CSI) has accumulated an extensive fan base during the years with some sites getting thousands of viewers a week. Some fans consider this "ship
Shipping (fandom)
Shipping, derived from the word relationship, is the belief that two fictional characters, typically from the same series, are in an intimate relationship, or have romantic feelings that could potentially lead to a relationship. It is considered a general term for fans' emotional involvement with...
" very similar to the one of Mulder
Fox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
and Scully
Dana Scully
FBI Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully, M.D. is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series The X-Files , played by Gillian Anderson. She also appeared in two theatrical films based on the series...
in the X-Files. From the beginning, both shows showed a lot of chemistry between the two co-workers, leading viewers to assume that a relationship between the two would soon begin, when in fact it would take years of a platonic relationship and sexual tension for something to actually be seen, with both couples only sharing their first on-screen kiss in the eighth season of their respective shows.
On September 27, 2007, after CSIs season eight premiered, a miniature model of Gil Grissom's office (which he was seen building during season seven
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 7)
The seventh season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 21, 2006 and ended May 17, 2007.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-References:...
) was put up for auction on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
. The auction ended on October 7 with the prop being sold for US$15,600, which CBS donated to the National CASA Association
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University was established in 1992 by Joseph A. Califano, Jr. The stated official goals of the organization are:...
.
Early life
Gilbert "Gil" Grissom was born on August 17, 1956, as an only child to a middle class family in Santa Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
.
Grissom's father taught botany at a local college and passed his enthusiasm for natural sciences onto his son. His father died when Grissom was 9 years old. Grissom recalls the day his father died to Catherine Willows in the episode "Still Life". "He came home from school, one hot humid day, laid down on the couch. I was watching TV, my mom brought in some cold drinks, but she couldn't wake him up. No one would tell me why." Consequently, as a young child, Grissom played doctor by performing necropsies on small, deceased animals in the local area.
Gil's mother, Betty, who was rendered deaf by the genetic disorder Otosclerosis
Otosclerosis
Otosclerosis is an abnormal growth of bone near the middle ear. It can result in hearing loss.-Clinical description:Otosclerosis can result in conductive and/or sensorineural hearing loss...
, was responsible for his love of books. As a result of his mother's deafness, Gil became fluent in American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
in order to be able to communicate with her.
In the earlier seasons of CSI
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, it becomes clear that Gil is also beginning to suffer with the degenerative disease; however, after seeking medical treatment, the disease was prevented from developing.
In the episode "Grissom Vs. the Volcano," Catherine tells the story of losing at a science competition as a child against a "kid with some lame red ants". Later in the episode Nick also reveals that he lost a science competition and Grissom tells him to let it go. In his childhood science competition, Grissom was the kid with the ants.
In a season two
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 2)
The second season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 27, 2001 and ended May 16, 2002.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-External links:* at TVShowsOnDVD.com....
episode he told Warrick that in high school, he was a "ghost", meaning that he did not belong to any group in particular. When he was in college, Grissom financed his first body farm
Body Farm
A body farm is a research facility where human decomposition can be studied in a variety of settings. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the decomposition process, permitting the development of techniques for extracting information from human remains...
with his winnings from a high stakes poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
game. At the same time, he also attended boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
matches to learn about the patterns of bruise formations on bodies and eventual blood spatters from the injuries.
He became a forensic entomologist
Forensic entomology
Forensic entomology is the application and study of insect and other arthropod biology to criminal matters. It is primarily associated with death investigations; however, it may also be used to detect drugs and poisons, determine the location of an incident, and find the presence and time of the...
. He earned his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
magna cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA), and his Ph.D. in biology from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
Career
Grissom became a Crime Scene Investigator in about 1985 (Grissom mentioned in Living Doll, which first aired on May 17, 2007, that he had been a Crime Scene Investigator for 22 years). Grissom once mentioned losing a body while in Minneapolis, implying he spent time there before taking a job in Las Vegas. This is mentioned again when he works with his former mentor, Dr. Phillip Gerard, played by Raymond J. BarryRaymond J. Barry
Raymond John Barry is an American film, television and stage actor.-Personal life:Raymond John Barry was born in Hempstead, New York . His father, Raymond Barry, worked in sales. His mother, Barbara Barry , was also an actor, known professionally as B. Constance Barry...
, stating that he used to work for him in Hennepin County
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
, whose seat is Minneapolis.
He became the night shift team supervisor for the Las Vegas CSI unit on the second episode of the series, after Jim Brass
Jim Brass
James "Jim" Brass is a fictional character from the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Paul Guilfoyle. Jim appeared in every episode, with exception of "Felonious Monk" from season two, "Gum Drops" and "The Unusual Suspect" from season six, "Leaving Las Vegas" from season...
got demoted following the death of co-worker Holly Gribbs.
In season seven
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 7)
The seventh season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 21, 2006 and ended May 17, 2007.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-References:...
, Grissom took a sabbatical to teach a class at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with Vermont to the north and New York to the west. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,754 at the 2010 census...
for four weeks. Prior to his sabbatical, Grissom had been showing signs of "burnout
Burnout (psychology)
Burnout is a psychological term for the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest. Research indicates general practitioners have the highest proportion of burnout cases; according to a recent Dutch study in Psychological Reports, no less than 40% of these experienced high levels of...
". Upon his return, however, he appears reinvigorated and tells Warrick Brown
Warrick Brown
Warrick Brown is a fictional character in the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Gary Dourdan. Warrick appeared in every episode until his death in season nine, with the exceptions of "After the Show" from season four, "Crow's Feet" and "Committed" from season five, and...
that he "missed" Las Vegas. After the resignation of Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by actress Jorja Fox. Sidle is a forensic scientist and one of the core characters of the show, which revolves around a crime scene investigation team from Clark County, Nevada that investigates...
, his fiancee, from the lab, and the murder of Warrick Brown, his burnout seems to be resurfacing. This is particularly evident in Say Uncle, where, at the end of the episode, he expresses deep regret over solving a particularly depressing case.
Grissom announced his retirement just as evidence comes to light that The Dick and Jane Killer, a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
from the 1990s currently serving two life sentences, did not act alone, and that his accomplice has begun killing again. Rather than leave in the middle of a case, Grissom stays on to help solve it, and ultimately proves instrumental in saving the life of a woman who would have been the killer's latest victim. The case closed, Grissom, having already had a series of one-on-one farewells with his co-workers, silently left the crime lab and departed for Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
for a reunion with fiancee Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by actress Jorja Fox. Sidle is a forensic scientist and one of the core characters of the show, which revolves around a crime scene investigation team from Clark County, Nevada that investigates...
, an allusion perhaps to his comments in a season one
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 1)
The first season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000 and ended May 17, 2001. The first season was rereleased Blu-ray, May 12, 2009.It is the only season of the CSI franchise that was broadcast in 4:3 ratio...
episode that when he left, people would not throw a party for him, because he was not the sort of person who people would get deeply involved with. He also says to Warrick in season two ("Ellie") that when he left there would not be a cake in the break room—he would just pick up and leave.
During season 10, he was guest-lecturing at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. In season 11, he was in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
consulting with the government.
Evolution through the years
Early episodes revealed Grissom to be a witty, enthusiastic and quirky scientist, who had some sense of humor. He flirted regularly and seemed to be constantly on a hyperactive state.Personality
Grissom in the series is often regarded as well-educated, but unusual in his approach toward his work and social life. In the series, some of his comments and actions can be seen to dumbfound his co-workers and superiors. His relationship with his subordinates in the office is portrayed as being a father figureFather Figure
"Father Figure" is the U.S. number-one song written and performed by George Michael and released on Columbia Records in 1988 as the third single from the album Faith.-History:...
to the team, but very professional in his work.
In addition to being somewhat of a polymath
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
beyond his career training, he exhibits Asperger
Asperger syndrome
Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...
-like traits, and in a second season
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 2)
The second season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 27, 2001 and ended May 16, 2002.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-External links:* at TVShowsOnDVD.com....
episode it is hinted that, in fact, he has Asperger's syndrome. Another character on CSI who shares these kind of traits is his subordinate (and current wife), Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by actress Jorja Fox. Sidle is a forensic scientist and one of the core characters of the show, which revolves around a crime scene investigation team from Clark County, Nevada that investigates...
. She once insinuated that Grissom was a misanthrope when he quoted her Thoreau's Walden
Walden
Walden is an American book written by noted Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau...
.
In the season 2 episode Alter Boys, Grissom confides in a priest that he does not believe in the concept of organized religion, but does believe in the idea of God. In addition to belief in God, Grissom and Greg would later agree that scientific education should not necessarily preclude belief in occultism and other paranormal concepts.
Although he is very dedicated to his job and sometimes goes to extremes in his investigations, his unwillingness to dabble in office politics often alienates his superiors, and sometimes his subordinates. He gets a lot of help in these areas from right-hand woman Catherine Willows
Catherine Willows
Catherine Willows is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Marg Helgenberger, who has received two Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for the role...
, who is always trying to make him "look up from the microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
".
Grissom claims to have never hired a prostitute for sex, stating that sex is intended to create a human emotional connection. He has also expressed distaste for carrying a firearm when in the field, a tendency that has brought several scoldings from co-worker Jim Brass
Jim Brass
James "Jim" Brass is a fictional character from the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Paul Guilfoyle. Jim appeared in every episode, with exception of "Felonious Monk" from season two, "Gum Drops" and "The Unusual Suspect" from season six, "Leaving Las Vegas" from season...
. Despite this, he has proven to have an exceptional accuracy at the firing range.
He once listed his hobbies to Lady Heather
Lady Heather
Heather Kessler, also known as Lady Heather, is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Melinda Clarke....
: "I have outlets. I read. I study bugs. I sometimes even ride roller coasters". Indeed, he has proven to be a very cultured man on many occasions, having a wide knowledge of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
. He often offers quotes from a variety of literary sources, including Shakespeare and Keats. Later in this same season
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 2)
The second season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 27, 2001 and ended May 16, 2002.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-External links:* at TVShowsOnDVD.com....
, he reveals himself to be a baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
fan. Sara notes that this is typical of Grissom, saying that he would like "all those stats". However, Grissom is not too familiar with popular culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
. In Two and a Half Deaths
Two And a Half Deaths
"Two and a Half Deaths" is the sixteenth episode in the eighth season of the American crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation which is set in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It was written by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn in a crossover between CSI and Two and a Half Men...
, Jim Brass
Jim Brass
James "Jim" Brass is a fictional character from the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Paul Guilfoyle. Jim appeared in every episode, with exception of "Felonious Monk" from season two, "Gum Drops" and "The Unusual Suspect" from season six, "Leaving Las Vegas" from season...
was talking about a TV program which he thought had already "jumped the shark
Jumping the shark
Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery....
," but Grissom did not know the term. While trying to explain, Brass says, "Remember the Fonz?", which Grissom did not know either.
Being an entomologist, he has a wide and varied knowledge of insects, which he applies to his investigations. This has led to his nickname, "The Bug Man". In the beginning of the show, he was referred as "Gruesome Grissom" for his sometimes morbid fascination with the more bizarre aspects of man and nature. Grissom keeps a variety of specimens in his office, including a radiated fetal pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
, a tarantula
Tarantula
Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
, and a two-headed scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
. He also has a bulletin board that looks like a fish on which unsolved cases go: "the ones that got away". Occasionally, he keeps evidence from closed cases (such as the models created by "The Miniature Killer
The Miniature Killer
Natalie Davis is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Jessica Collins....
"). In season seven
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 7)
The seventh season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 21, 2006 and ended May 17, 2007.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-References:...
, CSI newcomer Michael Keppler takes a look around Grissom's office and observes that he must be quite a freak. In "The Grave Shift", even after his office has been cleared out (and later reclaimed by a somewhat-reluctant Nick Stokes
Nick Stokes
Nicholas "Nick" Stokes is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by George Eads. Nick has appeared in every episode except for "Blood Lust" from season three, "Jackpot" and "Butterflied" from season four, "Committed" from season five, and "Spellbound"...
after Catherine Willows
Catherine Willows
Catherine Willows is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Marg Helgenberger, who has received two Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for the role...
passed on the offer), the fetal pig in a jar was placed back in there by Hodges
David Hodges (CSI)
David Hodges is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Wallace Langham. Hodges has a habit of giving far more information than anyone wants to hear while explaining things and is very afraid of germs....
, who felt that it belonged there.
When asked why he is a CSI, he responds, "Because the dead can't speak for themselves." This is one of his favorite quotes, and he uses it frequently.
Relationships with other characters
In the sixth season episode "Bang-Bang," Grissom tells Doc Robbins, concerning a woman shot in the mouth, "This was someone who was emotionally close to her." Doc Robbins asks him if he has ever even been close to getting married. Grissom tells him about "Nicole Daley," who, like him, was interested in bugs. He goes on a bit about her, then says, "Second grade."Grissom may not ask to take on the role of mentor, but it seems to happen naturally, going all the way back to Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by actress Jorja Fox. Sidle is a forensic scientist and one of the core characters of the show, which revolves around a crime scene investigation team from Clark County, Nevada that investigates...
when they first met in San Francisco, then Nick Stokes
Nick Stokes
Nicholas "Nick" Stokes is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by George Eads. Nick has appeared in every episode except for "Blood Lust" from season three, "Jackpot" and "Butterflied" from season four, "Committed" from season five, and "Spellbound"...
and Greg Sanders
Greg Sanders
Gregory Hojem-Sanders, is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Eric Szmanda. Greg appeared in every episode, with exception of "Blood Drops", "Fahrenheit 932", "Crate N' Burial" and "Too Tough To Die" from season one, "Cross Jurisdictions" from...
in Vegas. Although he can be annoyed with his protégés at times, he is visibly proud when they succeed, as Greg did by passing his field test and becoming a CSI. He is also protective of his staff and defends them as much as he can, as seen in episode 521 ("Rashomama") for example.
He also shares a good friendship with Dr. Al Robbins
Al Robbins
Dr. Albert "Al" Robbins M.D. is a fictional medical doctor in the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by actor Robert David Hall...
and the two were seen singing together in the autopsy room while processing the body of a murdered rock 'n' roll star (season 7, "Built to Kill, Part 2"). In the season six
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 6)
The sixth season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005 and ended May 18, 2006.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-External links:* at TVShowsOnDVD.com....
finale, it was revealed that Jim Brass
Jim Brass
James "Jim" Brass is a fictional character from the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Paul Guilfoyle. Jim appeared in every episode, with exception of "Felonious Monk" from season two, "Gum Drops" and "The Unusual Suspect" from season six, "Leaving Las Vegas" from season...
's living will gave Grissom power of attorney
Power of attorney
A power of attorney or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter...
, showing that Grissom was the one person Brass trusted with his life. He has also been shown to be something of an inadvertent mentor-figure to David Hodges
David Hodges (CSI)
David Hodges is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Wallace Langham. Hodges has a habit of giving far more information than anyone wants to hear while explaining things and is very afraid of germs....
, who looks up to him and often seeks his advice or approval, despite not always receiving it. Upon learning of Grissom's plans to quit CSI, Hodges becomes visibly upset.
His relationship with Warrick Brown
Warrick Brown
Warrick Brown is a fictional character in the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Gary Dourdan. Warrick appeared in every episode until his death in season nine, with the exceptions of "After the Show" from season four, "Crow's Feet" and "Committed" from season five, and...
had aspects of a mentor/student bond, but out of all the CSIs (Catherine included), Grissom seemed to view Warrick as his successor, the one who would lead when he was gone.
Some fans have always expected to see a relationship between Grissom and Catherine Willows
Catherine Willows
Catherine Willows is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Marg Helgenberger, who has received two Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for the role...
, in whom he is shown confiding many times, once even likening her to being his "wife". The two were never more than very good friends, as the show's producers see them as more of brother and sister than lovers. Catherine has many times encouraged Grissom to be more open and less self-absorbed, and to pursue something with Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by actress Jorja Fox. Sidle is a forensic scientist and one of the core characters of the show, which revolves around a crime scene investigation team from Clark County, Nevada that investigates...
.
Grissom has been allegedly involved with forensic anthropologist Teri Miller and with S&M parlor operator Lady Heather
Lady Heather
Heather Kessler, also known as Lady Heather, is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Melinda Clarke....
, whose "safeword
Safeword
A safeword is a code word or series of code words that are sometimes used in BDSM for a submissive to unambiguously communicate their physical or emotional state to a dominant , typically when approaching, or crossing, a physical, emotional, or moral boundary...
" it has been suggested that he knows - however, as all he says is "Heather, stop!" and "I'm saying Stop", he evidently does not use it, as "Stop" is never a "safeword
Safeword
A safeword is a code word or series of code words that are sometimes used in BDSM for a submissive to unambiguously communicate their physical or emotional state to a dominant , typically when approaching, or crossing, a physical, emotional, or moral boundary...
".
Sara Sidle
Since CSIs first seasonCSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 1)
The first season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000 and ended May 17, 2001. The first season was rereleased Blu-ray, May 12, 2009.It is the only season of the CSI franchise that was broadcast in 4:3 ratio...
there were hints that both Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle
Sara Sidle is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by actress Jorja Fox. Sidle is a forensic scientist and one of the core characters of the show, which revolves around a crime scene investigation team from Clark County, Nevada that investigates...
and Grissom were interested in each other romantically. In fact, the show's creators made Sara Sidle while thinking of a future love interest for Grissom, but during the show's first three seasons, Grissom flirted with all the female characters, and when Sara asked him out to dinner, he rejected her, claiming that he did not know what to do about what is going on between them.
Sofia Curtis
Sofia Curtis is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by British actress Louise Lombard.-Background:Sofia was introduced in the season five episode "Formalities"...
.
In mid-season five, Sara is suspended for insubordination and she reveals to Grissom her tormented childhood. He refuses to fire her and has her working in every case of the next two seasons with him.
It was not until the sixth season
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 6)
The sixth season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005 and ended May 18, 2006.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-External links:* at TVShowsOnDVD.com....
finale that it is revealed that Grissom and Sara have worked through whatever issues they had, and are, in fact, a couple, and have been for two years. This revelation caused mix reviews among critics, some of them see this relationship as CSI "jumping the shark
Jumping the shark
Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery....
", an attempt to include more drama and romance to the show, so as to be able to compete with the medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, which airs in the US at the same time. By killing off the sexual tension between the two characters and making them an item, the production crew were seen to be adding more personal drama to the show, increasing the appeal to some of Grey's Anatomys younger audience. This has been denied by the writers, Carol Mendelsohn
Carol Mendelsohn
Carol Mendelsohn is a TV writer, notable for her work on the crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.-Education:Mendelsohn grew up in Chicago. She attended the Latin School Of Chicago. Also she went to Smith College, but later transferred and in 1973 graduated from Cornell University...
even said that she has never been able to see Grissom with someone else other than Sara and that this episode was seen by the writers as the right time to reveal the relationship, Jorja Fox
Jorja Fox
Jorja-An Fox , is an American actress, musician and songwriter. She first came to prominence as a guest star on the television drama ER, portraying the recurring role of Dr. Maggie Doyle from 1996 to 1999. This was followed by another critical success in the recurring role of Secret Service Agent...
and William Petersen
William Petersen
William Louis Petersen is an American actor and producer, best known for playing Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom on the hit CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He portrayed President John F...
have also admitted that the relationship is not new.
Throughout season seven
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 7)
The seventh season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS on September 21, 2006 and ended May 17, 2007.-Notable cast members:-Episodes:-References:...
the audience sees Grissom and Sara as a couple, but the relationship is kept secret from the others in the lab until Sara's abduction by The Miniature Killer
The Miniature Killer
Natalie Davis is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portrayed by Jessica Collins....
in the season finale. During the 2007–2008 season, season eight, they have become engaged. In CSIs eighth season, when Jorja Fox
Jorja Fox
Jorja-An Fox , is an American actress, musician and songwriter. She first came to prominence as a guest star on the television drama ER, portraying the recurring role of Dr. Maggie Doyle from 1996 to 1999. This was followed by another critical success in the recurring role of Secret Service Agent...
decided to leave the show, both she and the writers decided not to kill the character, so as to leave the doors open for a possible comeback. Consequently, Sara Sidle is submerged into depression after her kidnap in the season seven finale, and, even though she accepts Grissom's marriage proposal on the season's fourth episode, she shows signs of burnout
Burnout (psychology)
Burnout is a psychological term for the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest. Research indicates general practitioners have the highest proportion of burnout cases; according to a recent Dutch study in Psychological Reports, no less than 40% of these experienced high levels of...
during the subsequent episodes, breaking down on the season's seventh episode, leaving Las Vegas and the CSIs with only a goodbye letter for Grissom and a good luck note for Ronnie Lake. In the letter she claims that ever since her father's death she has been dealing with "ghosts" and that she now needs to go away and deal with them before self-destructing.
After Grissom leaves CSI, he goes to Costa Rica, in hopes of finding Sara. Once they see each other, they embrace in a passionate kiss.
Sara's return to CSI in the first episode of Season Ten reveals that she and Grissom are now married.
External links
- GSRForeverLove A Grissom and Sara Romance Fan Site
- Gil Grissom at the Unofficial CSI Wiki
- The Sexiest Man in the Morgue, SlateSlate (magazine)Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
, February 11, 2005