Madison McReynolds
| Catherine Willows | |
|---|---|
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation character | |
 |
|
| First appearance | October 6, 2000 (1x01, "Pilot") |
| Last appearance | September 27, 2015 (Series finale, "Immortality") |
| Portrayed by | Marg Helgenberger |
| Voiced by | Marg Helgenberger (2003–2004; video games) Edie Mirman (2006–2010; video games) |
| City |
Las Vegas Los Angeles |
| Information | |
| Occupation | Crime Scene Investigator FBI Special Agent Stripper |
| Rank | CSI Level III Assistant Supervisor CSI Level III Supervisor Director of the Las Vegas Crime Lab Blood Spatter Specialist |
| Duration | 2000–2012, 2013, 2015 |
| Seasons | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 |
| Other Appearances | Immortality |
Director Catherine Willows is a fictional character, portrayed by Marg Helgenberger, from the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Helgenberger made her franchise debut in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's first season episode "Pilot". Helgenberger received several award nominations for her portrayal of Catherine, including two Primetime Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe Award nominations.
On March 16, 2000, Raymond A. Edel from The Record reported that actress Marg Helgenberger had been cast in the pilot episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a drama that centers on Las Vegas crime scene investigators. Helgenberger's character was billed as "a stripper-turned-investigator who is also a single mom."
The character of Catherine is based on real-life Las Vegas forensics officer Yolanda McClary. Helgenberger met with McClary and talked about her job in forensics in preparation for the role. The actress stated that McClary helped her to understand why she enjoyed working the job.
Helgenberger announced her departure in 2011, with Catherine making her last appearance in the twelfth season episode "Willows in the Wind", which aired on January 25, 2012. In August 2013, it was announced that Helgenberger would make a guest appearance in the show's 300th episode "Frame By Frame". Catherine appeared in a series of newly recorded flashbacks to a case that occurred in the timeframe of the first season.
Helgenberger appeared in every episode of the series' first eleven seasons, with the exceptions of:
Helgenberger then appeared in the first twelve episodes of season twelve, before departing the main cast.
Helgenberger appeared as a guest star in the season fourteen episode "Frame by Frame", before returning for the feature length finale "Immortality".
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