Gary Sinise and his family are in mourning. The actor announced that his son Mac passed away following a battle with cancer. Sinise shared his son’s and family’s story recently on The Gary Sinise Foundation’s website.
“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,” Sinise wrote in a statement. “My heart goes out to all who have suffered a similar loss, and to anyone who has lost a loved one. We’ve all experienced it in some way. Over the years I have met so many families of our fallen heroes. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s just d–n hard.”
Sinise said he and his family dealt with two cancer diagnoses back to back. Sinise’s wife Moira battled Stage 3 breast cancer. At the same time, doctors diagnosed Sinise’s son Mac with a rare form of spine cancer.
“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 added. “He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying.”
Gary Sinise Remembers Son
While Moira’s cancer went into remission, Sinise’s son Mac’s cancer came back and grew progressively worse over time. Doctors diagnosed Mac with Chordoma, a rare cancer affecting just 300 people a year in the U.S.
A graduate of the University of Southern California, Mac loved music, playing as a drummer alongside his father and also songwriting in his spare time. He underwent five surgeries over two years to try to stop the cancer. Over time, however, Mac lost the ability to move anything below his chest.
Still, he didn’t let that stop him. He collaborated on an album Resurrection & Revival, passing the week the album went to press. Sinise first spoke about his son’s illness in December 2023 interview with Fox News.
“Mac was living out a dream, bringing it to reality with his collaborating partner, Oliver,” Sinise wrote. “It was incredibly motivating and therapeutic for him, and he was so excited to see it all come together.”
Sinise hopes that his son’s story can continue to inspire and motivate others. That’s the legacy that his son leaves behind.
He said, “In sharing our story, we hope to shine a little bit of light on what has been a difficult time for us as Mac was truly a light for all of us. An incredible inspiration to those who knew and loved him, he faced his battle with grace, courage, and love. Even with one setback after another, he never stopped living and learning, creating, and giving, and loving.”