List of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation characters

The following is a list of characters for the CBS television series, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Regular cast

In the original cast, William Petersen plays the Las Vegas Police Department (LVPD) crime lab's night-shift supervisor Dr. Gil Grissom, a socially awkward entomologist. Marg Helgenberger plays Catherine Willows, a single parent, and former stripper, who worked her way through the ranks from a Lab Technician to CSI and upon Grissom's departure, to supervisor. George Eads plays Nick Stokes, a CSI Level 2 from Texas, who was eager to show his worth to Grissom. Stokes became a CSI Level 3 at the end of the pilot episode. Gary Dourdan was cast as Warrick Brown, a CSI Level 2 who initially has a gambling addiction that indirectly leads to the death of rookie Holly Gribbs. Brown was promoted to CSI Level 3 mid-way through the first season. Jorja Fox joined the cast in the second episode as San Francisco CSI Sara Sidle, brought in to investigate the death of Gribbs at Grissom's invitation. Sara was promoted to CSI Level 3 in between the first and second seasons. Paul Guilfoyle, was cast as Detective Captain Jim Brass, a LVPD Detective who originally ran the crime lab but was transferred back to Homicide following Gribbs' death.

Early recurring cast members included Eric Szmanda as DNA Tech Greg Sanders, who aspires to be a CSI, and Robert David Hall, introduced early in the first season as Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Albert Robbins, a double-amputee. Both became regular cast members in the first episode of season 3. Later in the series, Sanders transfers to the field as a rookie Crime Scene Investigator and begins progressing through the ranks. Louise Lombard joined the cast in season 5 as the Day Shift Supervisor, but was subsequently transferred to Grissom's team. Sofia Curtis became a Detective in season 6. After a single appearance in season 8, Lombard left the cast with no explanation.

When William Petersen who took a hiatus to do a play in season 7, Liev Schreiber joined the cast for a four-episode arc as Mike Keppler, a criminalist assigned to the grave shift. Keppler was eventually revealed to be a dirty cop who killed a man he believed had raped his girlfriend. Keppler was shot and killed after confronting his girlfriend's father, who he had discovered was the real rapist, saving Catherine's life.

In season 8, Wallace Langham as David Hodges became a series regular after appearing on a recurring basis since the third season. Hodges is a know-it-all trace tech who rubs people the wrong way, but always gets results. Later in the season Jorja Fox would be the first original cast member to leave the show, when Sara suffers severe burn-out and leaves Vegas. Fox returned for several guest appearances in the ninth season, she eventually departs again, this time for Costa Rica. Also in season 9, Gary Dourdan and William Petersen departed the cast. Dourdan's Warrick Brown was murdered by a corrupt undersheriff, while Petersen's Grissom retired and left for Costa Rica, to find Sara. The two would later marry.

Grissom's supervisory position was filled by a newly promoted Catherine Willows (Helgenberger), and Laurence Fishburne joined the cast as CSI Dr. Ray Langston. Lauren Lee Smith briefly played CSI Riley Adams, but left shortly after in the season 9 finale. Adams' exit interview would cause tension throughout the team, and eventually lead to Willows to promoting Stokes to Assistant Supervisor.

Liz Vassey, who first appeared in season 6 as DNA Tech Wendy Simms and David Berman who first appeared in season 1 as Assistant Medical Examiner David Phillips, became regular cast during the tenth season. Jorja Fox returned on a part-time basis before rejoining the main cast in the eleventh season. Vassey left the cast in the second episode, and Laurence Fishburne departed in the season finale. William Petersen and Louise Lombard made brief appearances; Sofia had risen through the ranks of the LVPD and was now the Deputy Chief, while Petersen's Grissom was only seen via webcam talking to his mother Betty, and Sara.

Following Fishburne's departure, Ted Danson was cast as the new CSI Supervisor DB Russell, replacing Helgenberger's Willows, who had been demoted following the events of Season 11. Elisabeth Harnois, who had guest starred one episode in season 11, joined the regular cast, playing former LAPD SID officer Morgan Brody, the daughter of Conrad Ecklie. Marg Helgenberger departed from the cast in episode 12, and was replaced by Elisabeth Shue in episode 14.

Following Jon Wellner's addition to the main cast as DNA Technician Henry Andrews in Season 13, following 8 years as a recurring guest star, the next major cast change came with the departure of Paul Guilfoyle at the end of Season 14. To date he has not been replaced as the lead Detective. George Eads' Nick Stokes left the show at the end of Season 15.

Overview

Recurring characters

Current recurring/notable cast members are listed in order of first appearance, while former cast members are ordered by their final episode count.

Law Enforcement

Current

• Joe Metcalf (Joseph Patrick Kelly; 1.01-) is an LVPD Patrol Officer who often assists the CSI team.
• Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann; 1.01-2.17; 5.07-) was a Day Shift Supervisor with CSI before subsequent promotions to Assistant Director, Undersheriff, and Clark County Sheriff. He is Morgan Brody's father.

Other

Relatives and friends of law enforcement

Recurring villains

See also

• Minor characters in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Footnotes