Forrest Gump star breaks silence on acting again after son's devastating death
Forrest Gump and CSI: NY star Gary Sinise is speaking out about the devastating personal tragedies that changed his life and prompted him to step away from acting.
The 70-year-old actor quietly paused his Hollywood career in 2019 to care for his son Mac after he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.
That same year, Sinise's wife Moira was also diagnosed with breast cancer. While she ultimately survived, Mac tragically passed away in January 2024 at just 33 years old.
In the wake of his son's death, Sinise has found strength in the support of his family and the peace of his Tennessee home.
He's now honoring Mac's legacy in a deeply personal way—by releasing music his son composed before he died.
'Mac left us things that are beautiful,' Sinise told People on Wednesday. 'I want people to know who he was.'
Sinise also addressed whether he plans to return to acting—something that once defined his life for decades.
A fixture in Hollywood, he was known for standout performances in Forrest Gump and Apollo 13, and led all nine seasons of CSI: NY.
But everything changed in 2018, when his family was hit with back-to-back tragedies—events that reshaped his priorities and pulled him away from the spotlight for good.
That summer, Sinise's wife of nearly 44 years, Moira, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.
Just as they were bracing for her treatment, they were blindsided by another devastating blow: their son Mac, then 27, was found to have a rare tumor at the base of his spine.
'It looked like a monster grabbing my son's spine,' Sinise told People, describing the MRI scan that revealed Mac had chordoma, a rare bone cancer that affects only about 300 people in the U.S. each year. 'It was a one-two punch.'
Moira endured eight rounds of chemotherapy and 35 radiation sessions before being declared cancer-free.
But Mac's battle was only beginning. Though doctors removed the tumor, his cancer returned—a recurrence seen in a small percentage of chordoma cases.
But in 2018, the actor's world shifted in an instant—and he's still living with the aftermath; That summer, Sinise's wife of nearly 44 years, Moira, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer; (Gary and Moira in 2004)
Sinise starred as Detective Mac Taylor on CSI: NY from 2004 to 2013, anchoring the series for all nine seasons and becoming a fan favorite
As Sinise juggled work on films and Netflix's 13 Reasons Why, he made countless calls to specialists and researched the disease obsessively.
'Dad dove into the storm,' said his daughter Ella, 32. 'Whatever's going on in his life, he goes full on. He did amazing, but it was hard to watch because it was traumatizing. It's a real testimony to his character—he doesn't let adversity slow him down.'
By 2020, Mac had spent six of the first eight months of the year in the hospital.
That's when Sinise made a life-changing decision: he stepped away from Hollywood entirely to focus on finding a miracle for his son.
'I became Mac's air traffic controller,' he said. 'I didn't want him thinking about the next treatment or worrying. So I took it all on myself. You're trying to take the pain away. A few times I felt like I couldn't do enough, or I didn't know what to do. Then you say a little prayer, get back up, and go back into the fight.'
Mac passed away in January 2024 at just 33 years old. Since then, Sinise hasn't returned to acting—and he's not sure he ever will.
'Something may come along and it'll be right, but it's harder to leave home now,' he admitted. 'I just want to be around family. Since losing Mac, I hold my daughters a lot tighter. You think about the things that are really important.'
The 70-year-old actor now finds peace in time with his family, including his five grandchildren from daughters Sophia, 36, and Ella, 32.
'He spoils them rotten,' said his eldest.
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