Most people recognize Gary Sinise because of the part that he played in Forest Gump. Who could forget the amazing role of Lieut Dan?
Gary Sinise is not only an actor known for roles such as what he played in Forest Gump or CSI, but he also is a family man as well. Many people recognize him because of the good work he has done but did you know that he left Hollywood for a very special reason?
Through all of the things that were seen publicly, such as his work in helping veterans or with his acting, we got to know him as an individual. It’s time for you to know a little more about what is going on behind the scenes, including some serious life struggles he has faced.
2018 was a bad year for Gary, because his son, McCanna “Mac” Sinise was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that was very aggressive. That cancer, called chordoma came only two months after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.
His wife, Moira is more than just somebody who stays behind the scenes and supports her husband, she is also a graduate from Illinois State University and an accomplished actress. She even met Gary when she was going to college.
They were married in 1981 and he said that they had planned their wedding for years but there wasn’t much fanfare that happened along with it. They didn’t even have rings to give each other when they said their vows.
Eventually, they would have three children, Sophie, Mac, and Ella. They would enjoy raising them and Moira would star in a number of films, including “One More Saturday Night,” “Of Mice & Men,” and “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.”
Eventually, she stepped back from her acting career to focus on family and philanthropy. She also became a member of the Board of Directors for the Gary Sinise Foundation. They work together as husband and wife, raising a family and helping as many people as they can.
Gary spoke about his wife, saying: “My wife’s a loving, funny, Irish-spirited person, and I’m still surprised at some of the things she says. She makes me laugh every day.” Unfortunately, her battle with breast cancer and their son’s battle with cancer took a lot of his energy away.
On top of everything they were going through, Gary’s father suffered from a stroke and his mother needed care. That is when he realized he had to shift his focus away from Hollywood.
Unfortunately, his son would lose his fight against cancer but his wife was able to go into remission and is now cancer-free.
Speaking about his son, he said: “Our son was fighting this cancer with no cure. Trying to find drugs and doctors or anybody that could do anything for him was like a full-time job. Plus, he became more and more disabled by the cancer as time went on. He needed more and more care.”
Because of all the difficulties he was facing, Gary had to put his acting career on hold and focus on the family. He knew that their lives were on the line.
It was more than just practicality that kept Gary from focusing on Hollywood. He loved his family and he knew that he could do more good for them at home than he could on the road.
They even decided to move to a more peaceful location so that they could heal and experience the financial benefits it would offer. They relocated in 2021 from their home in California to Tennessee.
That move to Tennessee was a ‘family decision’ and he said that he had been looking into states that might offer a better pace of life. The final decision was in Nashville, Tennessee, because of its strong sense of community and the culture in the area.
Being in a peaceful area also allowed Gary to focus on his foundation and the philanthropic work that he was doing. The organization supports first responders and veterans, and it was thriving.
It might not have been the easiest decision to leave Hollywood and move to Tennessee, but he did it for all the right reasons. We hope that he and his family are able to find exactly what they need, even during the difficult times.
