Lately, William Petersen (Gil Grissom) (Gil Grissom) has talked a lot about leaving CSI. In an interview with the Italian magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni he further explained why he wants to leave Grissom in the past.

"After six years and 130 episodes I'm really tired," the actor explained. "When I decided to be an actor, I was drawn by the idea to play many different characters. Now I have time only for Grissom. I like him, mind you. He taught me a lot, but I need to change, to be someone else."

Petersen revealed in other interviews he would like to move back to Chicago and pursue theatre. He added now he would also like to do movies. "In these years I've been offered with several roles for the cinema and I refused all of them to give myself completely to CSI," he said. "I don't know how long I can go on this way. And, well, I want to be back to theater. It's quite a long time I'm thinking about it and in a short time I will manage it."

Despite wanting to pursue other endeavors, Petersen explained his decision was influenced by his personal life as well. "Grissom is part of me. In the last 6 years I've been more Gil Grissom than Billy Petersen. I have kept him alive inside of me, mornings, afternoons and evenings for nine months a year. Lately I'm trying to be more myself, and the only way to do that is working less. When CSI began I wasn't married, now I am. I want to be a good husband."

Fans who are wondering when exactly Petersen will leave the show can rest assured, however, that it won't be this season and his exit won't be abrupt. "It's probable that in the next season Grissom won't be in every episode. It's time for him to rest. Both we need a long vacation. But this is not sure, it's only something we are working on."

Petersen admitted it'll be hard to leave a character that's become such a part of him. The actor admitted he and Grissom have a lot of things in common. "Both we have eccentric behaviors. I, too, suffer of phobias and I need to be alone from time to time during the day. Grissom has my same sense of humour and he gives me his interest for science that I have always neglected."

Thanks to misskuaigon at Your Tax Dollars At Work for the interview.

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