Gary Sinise, best known for his roles in film and television, recently spoke about the impact of his family’s struggle with cancer on his life and work. This experience has influenced his career in important ways. His son’s struggle with chordoma, a rare and slow-growing cancer, along with his wife’s diagnosis of Stage 3 breast cancer, reshaped Sinise’s priorities, leading him to step away from acting in 2020.
In 2018, Gary Sinise’s son, Mac, faced a daunting diagnosis of chordoma, a cancer affecting approximately one in one million people each year. The ailment severely affects tissue inside the spine and even after lengthy treatment, usually over 6 months, requires time to fully heal. Mac spent six of the first eight months of 2020 in the hospital as he continued to battle with several surgeries and therapies.
At the same time, Moira Harris, Sinise’s wife, was getting her own life-changing diagnosis. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer still later that same year. The family’s ordeal turned into a “one-two punch” as both Mac and Moira fought their own forms of cancer.
After five and a half years of navigating this challenging journey, Sinise reflected on the emotional toll it took on his family. He described how their common journey fighting cancer drew them closer together, but still posed exceptional burdens.
“Our family’s cancer fight lasted for 5 1/2 years, and it became more and more challenging as time went on. While our hearts ache at missing him, we are comforted in knowing that Mac is no longer struggling, and inspired and moved by how he managed it. He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying.” – Gary Sinise
Ultimately, Mac did die, and like any beloved companion, his absence left by Sinise is keenly felt. He described his son as a resilient spirit who embodied the perseverance of a soldier.
“Mac loved movies, and we always told him he reminded us of the soldier at the end of the extraordinary film 1917, running through the battlefield, bombs going off all around him, knocking him down one after the other, yet he keeps getting back up, refusing to quit and keeps running forward,” – Gary Sinise
As difficult as it was to lose Mac, Gary Sinise wanted to reiterate that family comes first, always. He promised to do all he could to protect their health and wellbeing through this challenging new chapter. Fortunately, his wife did complete her cancer treatment and is now cancer-free.
Today, Sinise continues to serve his community by hosting the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C. During this inaugural Military Families Caucus, he truly bonds with families of fallen heroes. Today, these experiences deeply inform his understanding of life and loss.
“Over the years I have met so many families of our fallen heroes. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s just damn hard,” – Gary Sinise
Even in terms of his return to acting, that’s something Sinise isn’t sure of himself. He agrees that when opportunities do come, it’s harder than ever to leave home.
“Something may come along and it’ll be right, but it’s harder to leave home now,” – Gary Sinise
