Actor Ted Danson has joined the cast of the Las Vegas-set television series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS announced Wednesday.
The multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner will make his first appearance during the show's Season 12 premiere Sept. 21. Series star Laurence Fishburne left last season to return to his film career.
Danson will play the new CSI supervisor for the grave shift after heading the crime lab in Portland. He comes to the team as they are still grappling with the professional and personal fallout from last season's takedown of serial killer Nate Haskell, the network said in a news release.
"You can create a new character on the page, but until the perfect actor comes along and breathes life into it, it's just words," Executive Producer Carol Mendelsohn said in a statement. "We're very excited Ted Danson came along."
"From the moment we all started talking about the role, it was clear he couldn't be more perfect," added Executive Producer Don McGill. "Intelligence, wit, warmth, depth of character and emotion, he brings it all. And now he'll have to bring latex gloves, too."
Despite his new role on "CSI," Danson will remain a series regular on the HBO series "Bored to Death," CBS noted.
The actor is best known for his roles in TV's "Damages," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Becker" and "Cheers."