Ted Danson replacing Laurence Fishburne on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"

(CBS/AP) - Actor Ted Danson is joining the cast of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" as the new lead investigator. 

The 63-year-old will play the supervisor for the Las Vegas CSI team, a position oringally held by William Peterson. Laurence Fishburne was added to the cast as a new investigator after Peterson left in the 2008-09 season. Fishburne dropped out of the show at the end of this season.

Pictures: Ted Danson
Read more: Laurence Fishburne leaving "CSI"

Besides his "CSI" duties, Danson will remain a series regular on the HBO comedy series, "Bored to Death," CBS said late Tuesday.

Danson first found TV stardom nearly 30 years ago playing Boston bar owner Sam Malone on "Cheers," a comedy hit on NBC that ran for 11 seasons. He was nominated twelve times for an Emmy for that role and won twice. He later starred on the CBS show "Becker," which ran from 1998-2004.

More recently Danson received Emmy nominations three years in a row for his role as Arthur Frobisher in the cable TV drama "Damages."

"CSI" will begin its 12th season with Danson aboard on Sept. 21.

Watch the CBSNews.com report here: