Gary Sinise took a step back from Hollywood after his late son, McCanna Anthony “Mac” Sinise, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.
“Family was the priority,” Gary, 71, told People in an interview published on Wednesday, November 4. “One of the blessings is that I had succeeded in Hollywood, and I could afford to be there for my family 24/7.”
Gary had been filming Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why when Mac was diagnosed with chordoma in 2018. That same year, Gary’s wife, Moira Harris, was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
“[Gary] was like the man at the circus juggling plates,” Harris, 72, recalled to the outlet. “All I wanted to do was hold him, and I couldn’t.”
After undergoing eight chemotherapy and 35 radiation treatment sessions, Harris was declared cancer-free. Mac, who was 27 when he was diagnosed, battled his cancer for five years.
When 13 Reasons Why wrapped in 2020, Gary took on the role as Mac’s primary caregiver.
“Mac tried 25 different drugs over a four-and-a-half year period. I never lost hope that we were going to hit the sweet spot,” Gary said, noting he found strength from the families of wounded military veterans he’s met through his eponymous foundation. “I’ve seen pretty banged-up folks over the years, and I’ve seen how families have dealt with somebody paralyzed from the neck down, blind or burned from head to toe.”
The former CSI: NY star continued, “Watching them live with courage prepared me to be a better caregiver and a better dad.”
Mac ultimately died in January 2024 at the age of 33.
“We didn’t get the miracle we were all praying for, but there were other miracles, like the way Mac lived his life,” the actor said. “He sure showed us grace under fire.”
Gary, Harris and their two daughters, Sophie and Ella, were all at Mac’s side when he died.
“We surrounded him when he took his last breath,” Sophie recalled to People. “As incredibly hard as it was, we got a glimpse into eternal life, and the gifts keep unfolding. You feel his presence everywhere.”
In the years since Mac’s death, Gary has continually worked to honor his son’s memory by spending time with his wife, daughters and six grandchildren.
“For me and my wife, it’s the best times when all the kids are there, and Mac is always with us,” he mused. “I wouldn’t want to leave. I want to be around my wife. I want to be with my grandkids. We are happy grandparents. He wouldn’t want us to be curled up in a ball in the corner. He wouldn’t want us to fall apart. He wanted us to be strong and to continue to live.”
