Gary Dourdan
An actor who brought a soulful, simmering intensity to the role of a troubled CSI investigator for nearly a decade on television's top drama.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American actor·Birthday: December 11·Generation X
Biography
Gary Dourdan played Warrick Brown on 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' for eight seasons, infusing the audio-visual forensic expert with a palpable inner life. The character was a recovering gambling addict with a deep love for jazz and a weary cynicism. Dourdan broke through earlier as the militant artist Shazza Zulu on 'A Different World,' showcasing a magnetic, edgy presence. His chemistry with the ensemble, particularly William Petersen's Grissom, was a key ingredient in the show's rise to become the world's most-watched television series. Though his tenure ended dramatically, his portrayal remained a defining element of that crime procedural.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Gary was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gary Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Gary's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed forensic analyst Warrick Brown for eight seasons on the global hit series 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'.
- Played the recurring role of Shazza Zulu on the NBC sitcom 'A Different World'.
- Appeared in films such as 'Alien: Resurrection' and 'Playing God'.
- Performed as a musician and vocalist, releasing music independently.
Did You Know?
He is a trained martial artist in the discipline of Capoeira.
He lived in Rome for several years during his youth.
He provided the voice for the character Mace in the video game 'Freelancer'.
He studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music for a time.
“I'm a student of the world, and I'm always looking for the next thing to learn.”
