Tragic news has struck actor Gary Sinise and his family as they mourn the loss of his son, McCanna Anthony “Mac” Sinise, who passed away at the age of 33.
Gary, 68, shared the heartbreaking news of Mac’s death on the Gary Sinise Foundation‘s website and his Instagram page, revealing that Mac sadly lost his battle to cancer on January 5.
In a heartfelt statement, Gary explained that Mac had been battling a rare form of cancer called Chordoma since August 8, 2018. This devastating diagnosis came just months after Gary’s wife, Moira Harris, received her own diagnosis of stage three breast cancer.
While Moira successfully underwent treatment and entered remission, Mac’s condition worsened over time, gradually robbing him of his strength and mobility.
Despite his health challenges, Mac remained resilient and continued to pursue his passion for music. Joining the Gary Sinise Foundation as an assistant manager of education and outreach, Mac also showed off his talent as a drummer, performing alongside his father in the Lt. Dan Band.
Mac was passionate about music, graduating of the University of Southern California after studying songwriting and composition. Despite undergoing five spine surgeries between 2018 and 2020, Mac’s paralysis from the chest down didn’t hinder his creativity. Just before his death he had completed work on an album “Resurrection & Revival”.
Gary spoke about the profound grief of losing a child, 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. 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 damn hard.”
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.”
Mac’s legacy lives on through his family, including his parents, sisters, nieces, nephews, and extended relatives. Gary is committed to honoring Mac’s memory, releasing his album, “Mac Sinise: Resurrection and Revival,” on vinyl.
In the face of his profound loss, Gary’s words only demonstrate the love and admiration he holds for his son, whose memory will continue to inspire and uplift all those who knew him.
We are sending out our thoughts to the Sinise family at this difficult time.