What is Gary Sinise doing now? '13 Reasons Why' star’s life after leaving Hollywood explored

Oscar-nominated actor Gary Sinise last appeared in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why in 2020. Recently, Sinise spoke to People Magazine for an exclusive interview, and shared that his son, Mac’s, cancer diagnosis prompted him to leave acting and focus instead on his family.

Having left Hollywood, Sinise currently resides in Tennessee and works for his foundation, the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Speaking about his decision to quit acting in 2019 during the interview, Sinise told People Magazine,

“I started putting everything I had into trying to find a miracle for Mac…I didn’t want Mac to be thinking of the next treatment or to worry. 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.”

As per a report by UInterview, quoted by IMDb, Gary Sinise’s son, McCanna Anthony ‘Mac’, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer in August 2018. Mac’s bone cancer originated in his spine in the form of a tumor. Speaking about the tumor with People Magazine, Sinise said,

“It looked like a monster grabbing my son’s spine.”

To make matters worse, Sinise’s wife of more than four decades was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer a year before their son’s cancer diagnosis, as per People Magazine. She was able to beat the disease after undergoing radiation.

As per UInterview, Sinise’s son went through several surgeries over the years following his diagnosis. However, he succumbed to complications arising from the illness in early 2024.

Sinise also spoke to People Magazine about his son’s death, and said,

“He kept wanting to stay. He didn't want to go. But I know Mac was at peace at the end. He dealt with it with grace and courage.”

Gary Sinise’s work with war veterans

Gary Sinise, who played Lt. Dan in the Oscar-winning film Forrest Gump, was inspired by his character in the film to start a foundation that caters to the needs of war veterans and first responders, as per News Channel 5 Nashville.

People Magazine notes that the foundation is called the Gary Sinise Foundation and was started by the actor in 2011.

According to the report by News Channel 5 Nashville, the Forrest Gump actor's decision to relocate to Tennessee from California in 2022 was greatly informed by the prospects that the state had to offer for his foundation. The report also mentioned that Sinise felt that his organization would be able to do more beneficial work in the centrally located state of Tennessee. The news channel quoted him as saying,

“Tennessee is that state that's connected…It's got seven or eight different borders, and in every state around Tennessee, they have military and veterans. I think the entertainment industry there is magnificent. I have a lot of friends. A lot of friends have said they'd support the Gary Sinise Foundation if I move it there. I'm excited about the move. California's been a great place. It's nice to think of challenges ahead.”

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Over the years, Sinise has used his experience in the film industry to spread awareness about the lives of war veterans and the difficulties they endure.

As per IMDb, Sinise came on board as the executive producer of the 2023 film, Brothers After War. The film deals with the transition that soldiers go through after returning home from war. Specifically, the film deals with the condition of war veterans who served during the war in Iraq.

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