Gary Sinise, renowned for his roles in “CSI: NY,” “Forrest Gump,” “Apollo 13,” and “The Green Mile,” has recently shared the tragic news of his son’s passing. McCanna “Mac” Sinise, his son, succumbed to a rare form of cancer, chordoma, on January 5, after a grueling five-and-a-half-year battle. The news was shared via the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Instagram account, which posted a tribute to Mac.
Sinise, 68, and his wife, Moira Harris, have been married since 1981 and have two daughters, Sophie and Ella, in addition to their late son. The couple faced a double blow in 2018 when both Mac and Moira were diagnosed with cancer, with Moira battling breast cancer. Thankfully, Moira has since recovered.
In a heartfelt message on the Gary Sinise Foundation website, Sinise expressed his family’s grief. He empathized with other families who have experienced similar losses, acknowledging the immense difficulty of losing a child. Despite the pain, Sinise found solace in the fact that his son was no longer suffering and expressed admiration for Mac’s resilience throughout his battle with cancer.
Mac, who was 33 at the time of his death, was a passionate musician. He studied songwriting and composition at the USC Thorton School of Music and was an avid drummer. Sinise revealed that Mac had been working on an album, “Mac Sinise: Resurrection and Revival,” which will be released posthumously. Mac’s music videos can be viewed on his YouTube page.
Chordoma, the cancer that took Mac’s life, is extremely rare, affecting only about 300 people in the U.S. each year. Sinise explained that while the initial tumor can be removed in 70% of cases, the cancer returns in 30% of patients.
Sinise shared his family’s story in the hope of shedding light on their difficult journey. He described Mac as an “incredible inspiration” who faced his battle with grace, courage, and love. Despite numerous setbacks, Mac never ceased to live, learn, create, and give love. Sinise concluded his note by expressing his eternal love for his son and his pride in being Mac’s father.