Trivia

On December 10, 2008, was awarded the United States of America Presidential Citizens Medal (which was established on November 13, 1969 to recognize U.S. citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation. The medal is bestowed by the President and may be conferred posthumously. The Presidential Citizens Medal is one of the highest honors the President can confer upon a civilian, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.) for his work with the USO and Operation Iraqi Children.

Founded Operation Iraqi Children (www.operationiraqichildren.org) in early 2004 with "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" author Laura Hillenbrand.

His band, "Lt. Dan Band", performed for more than 240,000 troops and their families in the United States, Belgium, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among others. They have performed in about 50 USO tours and 119 USO concerts. The band plays 30 to 40 shows each year, with 75 percent of those shows for charities, benefits or the USO. (June 2012)

Gary appeared on screen with his spouse, Moira Sinise, in Crime Story (1986), portraying a married couple. Moira had a small role in Miles from Home (1988), the first feature Gary directed, but Moira's role was left on the cutting-room floor. Moira appeared as the "Girl in the Red Dress" in Of Mice and Men (1992).

Has appeared with Tom Hanks in three films: Forrest Gump (1994), Apollo 13 (1995) and The Green Mile (1999); and Ed Harris in three films: The Stand (1994), Apollo 13 (1995) and The Human Stain (2003).

Won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a miniseries or dramatic special for portraying George Wallace the very night the real George Wallace died.

Formed the "Lt. Dan Band", a band consisting of several singers, guitarists, drummers and keyboardists. The band has a total of 13 members. Sinise plays bass guitar. The name is, of course, in homage to his character in Forrest Gump (1994), Lt. Dan Taylor.

Kimo Williams first worked with Gary as composer for a Steppenwolf production of "A Streetcar Named Desire." After learning of Gary's talents on the bass, Kimo encouraged him to do more playing and they enjoyed the occasional jam session over the years. As Gary began what has turned out to be an extraordinary commitment to the USO, these jams eventually led to gigs in the Chicago area, gathering local talent and performing for troops and their families.

His Steppenwolf theater company, started by high-school graduates in a Catholic-school basement, is currently an institution housed in an $8 million theater.

His two most iconic characters have the same last name: Lt. Dan Taylor from Forrest Gump (1994) and Detective Mac Taylor from CSI: NY (2004).

Received an honorary degree (Doctor of Humane Letters) from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts (2003).

Was considered for the starring role in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). When he did not get the role, he recommended that the producers hire William Petersen, which they did. Ironically, he is currently the star of CSI: NY (2004), the spin-off of Petersen's successful television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000).

As of 2014, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Forrest Gump (1994), Apollo 13 (1995) and The Green Mile (1999). Forrest Gump (1994) won the award in the category. Coincidentally, all three movies star Tom Hanks in the leading role and were all released in the 1990s.

Gary Sinise was born on March 17, 1955. In the movie Apollo 13 (1995), Gary Sinise played original Apollo 13 pilot, Ken Mattingly. Mattingly was born on March 17, 1936.

Shares a birthday with Rob Lowe, with whom he co-starred in The Stand (1994).

Along with his band, "Lt. Dan Band", he performed three shows in Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, and at the Coast Guard Base Kodiak on Kodiak Island. This was their second show in Kodiak after first visiting in 2010. (June 2012)

Father of Sophie Sinise, McCanna Anthony Sinise and Ella Sinise with Moira Sinise.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6664 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on April 17, 2017.

Has Italian (from his paternal grandfather), English, Scots-Irish, Irish, French, German and Swedish ancestry.

Has appeared in spin-offs of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) (CSI: NY (2004)) and Criminal Minds (2005) (Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016)).

Has been nominated for Tony Awards three times: in 1990, as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play), for portraying Tom Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath," a role he recreated in the television version of the same title, The Grapes of Wrath (1991); in 1996, as Best Director for a revival of Sam Shepard's "Buried Child," and in 2001 as Best Actor (Play), for portraying Randle McMurphy in a revival of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.".

While most of the CSI: NY (2004) cast is from New York, Sinise is one of three exceptions. The others are Melina Kanakaredes (who was born in Ohio) and Anna Belknap (who was born in Maine). However, Sinise, Belknap and Kanakaredes have all lived in NY at some point in time.

Is a Republican. Founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation.

He played Governor George Wallace in George Wallace (1997). He reprised the role in Path to War (2002) (uncredited).

On February 5, 2020, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Patriot Award, which is the highest civilian award the Society grants. It is given annually to Americans who possess the highest ethics and selfless dedication in the demonstration of the six values embodied by the Medal of Honor: courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship and patriotism.

Narrates "Mission: Space" at EPCOT at Walt Disney World in Florida. Previously, there was a "Mission to Mars" attraction at Disneyland Park (TM) in California and The Magic Kingdom. The attractions closed November 2, 1992 and October 4, 1993, respectively.

Shares his March 17 birthday with Ken Mattingly whom he portrayed in Apollo 13 (1995), Rob Lowe with whom he co-starred in The Stand (1994), and Casey Siemaszko with whom he co-starred in Of Mice and Men (1992).

Has played the same character (Detective Mac Taylor) on three different series: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000), CSI: Miami (2002) and CSI: NY (2004).

Attended and graduated from Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Illinois (1974).

The two episodes of Crime Story (1986) that he directed are the only times he has been credited as "Gary A. Sinise.".

Performed in a band called "Half Day Road" as a teen. Band broke up before their first album "Half Day Road" could be recorded.

Is a die-hard fan of the Chicago Cubs.

He was nominated for a 2000 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

He was nominated for a 1981 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Balm in Gilead" at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

He was nominated for a 1984 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "Tracers" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

He was awarded the 1996 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "Buried Child" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

He was nominated for a 1985 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a play for "Orphans" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

He was nominated for a 1982 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "True West" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

He was awarded the 1980 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for "Getting Out" at the Wisdom Brige Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Son of Robert L. Sinise.

In both The Stand (1994) and Forrest Gump (1994), he played a character who uses a cane to walk.

Went on his 100th USO tour on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. He and the Lt. Dan Band performed for troops stationed in Virginia Beach, VA.

Went on his first handshake tour with the USO in the summer of 2003, visiting US troops in the Middle East.

He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant": Forrest Gump (1994) and Apollo 13 (1995).

Took his "Lt. Dan Band" on their first USO tour in February of 2004. Their first stop was in Diego Garcia before heading to Korea and Singapore.