Michael Tullberg/Getty ; Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Gary Sinise had a decades-long acting career in which he starred in 1994'sForrest Gumpand the CBS dramaCSI: NY He stepped away from acting in 2019 in the wake of a personal family matter The actor has since relocated to Tennessee and is focused on preserving his late son's memory Gary Sinisehas traded in the Hollywood lights for a quieter life in Tennessee. The Illinois-born actor rose to fame after portraying wounded Vietnam soldier Lieutenant Dan Taylor in 1994'sForrest Gump.Throughout his decades-long career, Sinise starred in several notable projects — from 1995'sApollo 13to the hit CBS dramaCSI: NYthroughout the early 2000s — while also pursuing a side career in music as the frontman of the Lt. Dan Band. Over the years, he earned widespread recognition for his roles, receiving anOscarnomination and winning both anEmmyand aGolden Globe. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 2017. In 2020, he appeared in three projects —I Still Believe,Joe Belland Netflix's13 Reasons Why— which also marked the end of an era for the actor. "I haven't been back to work since 2019,"Sinise told PEOPLEin May 2025. "Something may come along and it'll be right, but it's harder to leave home now." So why did Gary Sinise quit Hollywood? Here's everything to know about the reason the Oscar nominee stopped acting and where he is today. Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty During a May 2025 conversation with PEOPLE, Sinise shared that he paused his acting career to focus on his family. In 2018, just months after his wife Moira was diagnosed with breast cancer, their son Mac learned he had chordoma, a type of rare bone cancer that affects around 300 people in the U.S. per year. "It looked like amonster grabbing my son's spine," Sinise recalled of the early MRI scan, adding that navigating Moira and Mac's cancers simultaneously felt like a "one-two punch." In 2020, Mac spent six months in the hospital, prompting Sinise to shift priorities and put his acting career on hold. "That's when I stopped acting. I started putting everything I had into trying to find a miracle for Mac," he said, noting that he became his son's "air traffic controller." "I didn't want Mac to be thinking of the next treatment or to worry," Sinise said. "So I thought about cancer all the time. 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." Gary Sinise/instagram Mac had his tumor removed by doctors, only for the cancer to return later on. Between 2018 and 2020, he underwent five separate spine surgeries. Over time, his condition worsened as the tumors paralyzed him from the chest down and restricted the full use of his arms. Following his years-long journey with cancer,Mac diedon Jan. 5, 2024, at 33 years old. Sinise shared the tragic news on his foundation'swebsite, writing, "Like any family experiencing such a loss, we are heartbroken and have been managing as best we can." "As parents, it is so difficult losing a child. My heart goes out to all who have suffered a similar loss, and to anyone who has lost a loved one," the actor said. "We've all experienced it in some way." He continued, "Our family's cancer fight lasted for 5 ½ 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." Sinise opened up about Mac's final moments during his conversation with PEOPLE, saying, "I know Mac was at peace at the end. He dealt with it with grace and courage." Michael Tullberg/Getty In the summer of 2018, Sinise's wife, Moira — whom he met when he co-founded Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company — was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy and 35 radiation treatments before ultimately being declared cancer-free. But Sinise had already stepped into a caregiving role years earlier, after his father suffered a stroke in 2016. During a November 2024 conversation withFox News, Sinise explained that after his dad's stroke, he had to "take care" of his mom, who was "alone" at the time. "Ikind of had my hands full," he recalled. Michael Tullberg/Getty Since stepping away from acting, Sinise has been focused on healing from the loss of his son, preserving his memory and spending time with his close-knit family. Sinise, who is also a father to daughters Sophie and Ella, told PEOPLE that he and his family "pulled together quite a lot" in the aftermath of Mac's death. The actor relocated to Nashville, where he enjoys spending time with his five grandchildren. "It's just the most wonderful thing," he said. In addition to spending time with his family, Sinise finds purpose in continuing his late son Mac's legacy, primarily through music. In 2023, Mac — a musician and composer — reconnected with a friend from the University of Southern California's music school who helped bring some of his long-shelved compositions back to life. He celebrated his 33rd birthday that November by recording tracks for an album titledResurrection & Revival. Sadly, he never got the chance to finish it before his death. In the months following Mac's death, Sinise discovered more of his son's music on his laptop and used it to record a second album. The actor then released the two projects,Resurrection & Revival: Parts 1 and 2, with the money going toward the Gary Sinise Foundation, per Mac's request. "I want people to hear his music," he told PEOPLE. "I want people to share it. I'm on a mission." As for whether he would ever return to Hollywood, Sinise isn't sure if that's in the cards. "I just want to be around family," he explained. "Since losing Mac, I hold my daughters a lot tighter. You think about the things that are really important." Gary Sinise/ Instagram In 2011, theForrest Gumpactor launched the Gary Sinise Foundation, whose mission is to "serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need," per itswebsite. During his conversation with PEOPLE, Sinise explained how his work with the foundation — whichraises millions of dollars for veteransannually — also helped him grapple with his son's death, saying, "I've wrapped my arms around lots of kids who have lost a mom or a dad." "I've been around people that have persevered through difficult things. It's given me strength," he continued. "There's no question God prepared me well for dealing with our loss." Sinise has advocated on behalf of America's service members for decades and will return to co-host the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C., on May 25. According toPBS, he also serves as spokesperson for both the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation and Disabled American Veterans, while also sitting on the executive councils for The Medal of Honor Foundation and the USO. Sinise also released an autobiography, titledGrateful American: A Journey from Self to Service, which tells the story of how he "found his calling" in preserving the memory of those who have defended the country, per itssynopsis. Read the original article onPeople
