ABOUT THE SERIES: The American Cinematheque and Beyond Fest are thrilled to welcome actor William Petersen for an in-person tribute highlighting his starring roles in two of the most stylish, thrilling, and fascinating films of the 1980s: William Friedkin’s TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. and Michael Mann’s MANHUNTER. Grounded by Petersen’s big-screen charisma and fully-embodied performances, both films deconstruct the conventions of ‘70s and ‘80s action blockbusters, following protagonists torn between their duty and their personal lives. He brings TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. to life with his portrayal of hotheaded Secret Serviceman Richard Chance, whose anguish over the murder of his partner drives him over the line from loose-cannon to criminal. Petersen’s physicality, with its edge of barely-restrained violence and notes of deep grief, make Chance a self-destructive, tragic figure of genuine pathos. His turn as FBI agent Will Graham in MANHUNTER pioneered the onscreen archetype of the behavioral profiler: the empathetic, calculating detective who gets into the minds of killers—and risks bringing his work home with him. Petersen’s interpretation of the character fits perfectly into filmmaker Michael Mann’s icy thriller, inspiring generations of criminal profilers in film, television and real life.