LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- William Petersen is leaving
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," a move that might have fans of his
brainy crimebuster Gil Grissom screaming bloody murder.
William Petersen will leave "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" in the middle of the upcoming season.
Petersen has agreed to return for occasional guest appearances and will
remain a "CSI" executive producer but his run as an original cast
member will end this coming season, executive producers Carol
Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar said Tuesday.
The air date for his
final episode, the season's 10th, has yet to be determined but probably
will be at the beginning of 2009, the producers said. The series
debuted in fall 2000.
A number of familiar characters will
return in the episodes building up to Grissom's departure, among them
his former colleague and flame Sara Sidle, played by Jorja Fox; the
Miniature Killer and sexy Lady Heather.
"Who better to turn to when you're a scientist in crisis," Mendelsohn said jokingly of Heather (Melinda Clarke).
The decision to leave was Petersen's, the producers said, declining
further comment. A call to Petersen's publicist was not returned
Tuesday.
The actor had taken a break during the 2006-07 season
to perform in a play, with Liev Schreiber stepping in as a visiting
investigator.
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