Actor Gary Sinise discusses family's cancer journey, late son's musical legacy
A celebrated actor who has long been known for his devotion to veterans' charities recently opened up about a decision he and his family made to leave the hustle and bustle of Hollywood behind.
As Fox News reports, actor and philanthropist Gary Sinise departed Tinsel Town in 2021, moving to Nashville amid his wife and son's respective battles with cancer, and he is now reflecting on the sad, yet inspirational journey he has traveled ever since.
Putting family first
Perhaps best known for his portrayal of “Lt. Dan” in 1994's Forrest Gump, Sinise offered poignant insight into what led him to take an extended hiatus from acting back in 2019.
Though in the past, Sinise had pointed to Tennessee's lack of state income tax and Nashville's bustling music scene as key reasons for his subsequent 2021 relocation, he recently told Fox News Digital that there was another pivotal factor responsible for the move.
“We were in the cancer fight during that time,” the famed actor stated.
Sinise was referring to the fact that at the time of his departure for Tennessee, his wife had recently received a breast cancer diagnosis, and his son learned that he was suffering from an extremely rare form of spinal cancer known as chordoma.
Not only did Sinise's wife and son receive their diagnoses within two months of one another, the actor's father had also just had a stroke, and his elderly mother required assistance with daily living.
Cancer battle and poignant aftermath
Fortunately, Sinise's wife was ultimately declared cancer free after treatment and subsequent remission.
The actor's son, McCanna “Mac” Sinise, however, did not have a similar outcome and sadly passed away earlier this year at the young age of 33.
While he was fighting the killer disease, Mac Sinise -- a graduate of USC's Thornton School of Music -- fulfilled a personal dream of recording an album of his own original music, a collection titled Resurrection & Revival.
Recalling Mac's creative process during what was a physically and emotionally grueling time for the family, Gary Sinise recalled, “I will say this about Mac and the album that he made last year...he had achieved something that he set out to do, which was to record all this music in May and make a full album of it...that gave me a lot of joy...just watching him kind of enjoy those moments.”
After Mac's death, Gary Sinise combed through his son's files and electronic devices, only to find a trove of additional music that was released on Nov. 10 -- what would have been Mac's 34th birthday -- under the album name Resurrection & Revival: Part 2, a project his father deemed “a real labor of very deep love.”
Lasting legacy of good works
Despite his recent personal tragedy, the beloved actor remains thoroughly committed to the work of the Gary Sinise Foundation, whose self-declared mission is to “serve our n ation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.”
To that end, just this past week, the foundation provided Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Joshua Hargis -- who sustained severe injuries and lost both of his legs while serving in Afghanistan -- a custom, mortgage-free home, with Gary Sinise continuing to build on a legacy of good works of which his son Mac would surely be proud.