Obituaries

Gary Sinise, famous for his portrayal of Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump, is currently navigating the profound grief of losing his beloved son, McCanna Anthony Sinise. McCanna, who had bravely battled cancer for five and a half years, sadly succumbed earlier this year. The 68-year-old shared the heart-wrenching news of his son's passing in a statement made available via the official platform of the Gary Sinise Foundation, but also on his personal Instagram page. In the statement, Sinise expressed the profound loss of his son, revealing that McCanna passed away on January 5 at the tender age of 33 and was laid to rest on January 23. Gary Sinise's son dies after battling a rare form of cancer View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gary Sinise (@garysiniseofficial) While sharing the news via Instagram, the actor opened up about the profound emotional impact of losing a child, emphasizing the immense trauma experienced by any parent in such a situation. "Like any family experiencing such a loss, we are heartbroken and have been managing as best we can,” Sinise wrote. “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." RELATED: Gary Sinise Reflects On His Mission To Help Veterans And Wounded Soldiers "Our family's cancer fight lasted for 5 ½ years, and it became more and more challenging as time went on," Sinise added. "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.” 7 March 2020 - Hollywood, California - Gary Sinise. Premiere Of Lionsgate's "I Still Believe" held at The ArcLight Cinemas. Photo Credit: FS/AdMedia Sinise shared that despite the severity of the sickness, Mac maintained a remarkable sense of optimism. During his final years, he dedicated himself to learning to play the harmonica and even completed an album titled Mac Sinise: Resurrection and Revival before his passing. “He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying," he explained. "Mac loved movies, and we always told him he reminded us of the soldier at the end of the extraordinary film 1917, running through the battlefield, bombs going off all around him, knocking him down one after the other, yet he keeps getting back up, refusing to quit and keeps running forward. I am so blessed, fortunate, and proud to be his dad.” MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA - NOVEMBER 20: Actor Gary Sinise arrives at the 29th Annual Achilles Gala held at Cipriani South Street on November 20, 2019 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by William Perez/Image Press Agency) The 68-year-old emphasized that his son's life, achievements, and perseverance in the face of challenges served as a remarkable example for others to follow. “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,” Sinise confessed. “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, giving, and loving."