Hollywood actor and veteran advocate Gary Sinise has shared devastating news that has left fans mourning alongside him. His beloved 33-year-old son, Mac Sinise, passed away after a long and courageous battle with a rare form of bone cancer, known as chordoma.
A Family’s Double Battle
In a heartbreaking twist of fate, both Gary’s wife Moira and son Mac were diagnosed with cancer in 2019, just two months apart. While Moira overcame stage 3 breast cancer, Mac’s fight against chordoma, which affects only around 300 people in the U.S. each year, proved to be much more severe.
“It looked like a monster grabbing my son’s spine,” Sinise recalled, describing the shocking MRI scan.
Though doctors were initially able to remove the tumor, Mac’s cancer returned—a cruel fate faced by a small subset of chordoma patients.
“I Stopped Acting”
The Forrest Gump and CSI: NY star made the ultimate sacrifice as a father—he paused his career to be fully present during his son’s grueling medical journey.
“That’s when I stopped acting,” he told People. “I started putting everything I had into trying to find a miracle for Mac.”
Sinise described the emotional toll of watching his son suffer:
“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 and Mac Sinise – Credit / Gary Sinise Foundation
Mac’s Final Days
Despite his declining health, Mac remained determined to keep going.
“He didn’t want to go,” Gary said. “But I know Mac was at peace at the end. He dealt with it with grace and courage.”
Mac died on January 5, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was laid to rest on January 23rd.
A Father’s Grief and Pride
Gary Sinise paid tribute to his son in a powerful statement on his foundation’s website:
“Like any family experiencing such a loss, we are heartbroken… I am so blessed, fortunate, and proud to be his dad.”
Since Mac’s passing, Gary has chosen to prioritize family over fame:
“Something may come along and it’ll be right,” he said of acting again. “But it’s harder to leave home now. Since losing Mac, I hold my daughters a lot tighter.”
Credit / Gary Sinise Foundation
Honoring Mac’s Legacy
As a long-time supporter of veterans and families in crisis, Gary Sinise knows the importance of community, support, and recovery. Through his Gary Sinise Foundation, he continues to help others facing unimaginable challenges—even while carrying his own heartbreak.
🙏 Rest in peace, Mac Sinise. May your bravery inspire others to keep fighting, and may your story spark more awareness for rare cancer treatment, support, and early diagnosis.
🕯️ If you’ve been touched by cancer, or know someone who has, consider sharing this story. And if you’d like to support families like the Sinises, visit your nearest cancer foundation or donate in Mac’s name.
Because no one should face such battles alone.