Gary Sinise - The Forrest Gump Star Celebrates His 65th Birthday

Mar 16, 2020

Hollywood actor, Gary Sinise, famed for his role as Lt. Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump, turns 65 today. To celebrate his special day we’ll remember his most memorable moments.

The year 1974 marked the beginning of Sinise’s career, as he founded the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago with his colleagues Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry. The company quickly grew and six additional members joined, including H.E. Baccus, Nancy Evans, John Malkovich, Laurie Metcalf, Alan Wilder, and Moira Harris. The latter even ended up becoming Sinise’s wife in 1981 and over the years the couple gave birth to three children: Ella Jane, McCanna Anthony, and Sophie Anne. 

Sinise had his first TV appearances in the 1980s and his feature film debut directing ‘Miles From Home’ in 1988. Four years later, he combined his acting and directing skills in an adaption of Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men.’ In 1994, Sinise starred in ‘Forrest Gump’ playing the role of veteran Lieutenant Dan that earned him multiple awards as well as Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, as IMBd states. 

In the 1990s, Sinise also appeared in other successful feature films such as ‘Apollo 13,’ the HBO movie ‘Truman’ which earned him a Golden Globe, and the TNT movie George Wallace for which he received a Primetime Emmy. Sinise also starred in multiple TV series. He played the role of Detective Mac Taylor on 'CSI: NY' and appeared in two seasons of 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders,'  according to IMBd. 

One may think that acting is Gary’s true passion with a career that withstood the test of time, but it seems as if he actually has side projects that he is more passionate about than anything. Although he’s an actor by day, the talented working man actually does things for the betterment of society in his free time.

Inspired by his character in Forrest Gump as well as veterans he personally met, the actor founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2009 in order to help returning veterans. Since its founding, the foundation has helped thousands of veterans get back on their feet upon their return from combat. 

Additionally, he also cares about the families of fallen soldiers. That's why Gary and his foundation sent about 1,000 children, whose mother or father has passed away serving the country, on a Christmas trip to Disney World to give them a reason to smile about.

In 2019, Sinise got surprised with a video that featured stars such as Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, and Kristin Chenoweth who all thanked the actor for his humanitarian work. 

In February 2020, Gary Sinise has been awarded the highest honor given out by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society receiving the Patriot Award for his foundation’s work in supporting veterans. 

Are you a fan of Gary Sinise and his incredible charity work? If so be sure to wish him a happy birthday in the comments and to pass this article along to your friends and family.