Gil Grissom
Gilbert (Gil) Arthur Grissom, Ph.D. (August 17, 1956 - ) is a fictional character featured on the United States crime drama television show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Grissom is played by William Petersen, who is also one of the show's producers.
The character has strong tendencies towards ethics, logic and deduction. His dispassionate demeanor and high intellect often work to his advantage in his job. However, his avoidance of job politics and sometimes poor interpersonal skills can alienate his superiors and subordinates. He is never disturbed by the various subcultures his job brings him in contact with.
Gil Grissom is the nightshift supervisor of the Las Vegas CSI team. He is also a forensic entomologist who earned his degree in biology from UCLA. Because of his knowledge (and his ability to apply it to his investigations), Grissom has been nicknamed "The Bug Man".
Grissom's mother was deaf; because of this, he knows sign language. He has inherited his mother's otosclerosis, a disease which was causing him to go deaf slowly, but he underwent corrective surgery.
Gil Grissom's hobbies include his work, cockroach racing, reading and riding roller coasters.
Little is known about Grissom's past or personal life. He says that in high school, he was a "ghost." He was raised to believe in the Roman Catholic Church, but later said, "That guilt's not a part of my life anymore."
In as much as Grissom confides to anyone, he confides in Catherine Willows. He once obliquely likened her to "his wife." He has a largely unspoken attraction to Sara Sidle, somewhere between paternal and romantic, often termed Geek Love, or GSR (Gunshot Residue/GrissomSara Romance). He has supported Warrick Brown through several brushes with the law.
Grissom is named after astronaut Gus Grissom; originally intended to be named Gil Scheinbaum, William Petersen changed the name because of his admiration for Grissom.