From Lt. Dan To Real-Life Hero: Gary Sinise Is The Brother Soldiers Need

Some roles change an actor’s life forever.

Think Sigourney Weaver playing Ripley in “Alien” or Christopher Reeve’s iconic work in the “Superman” franchise.

Gary Sinise’s turn as Lt. Dan Taylor in 1994’s “Forrest Gump” had a similar effect. Yes, the versatile Sinise had co-founded Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1974 and already had a few screen credits to his name. “Forrest Gump” put him on the proverbial map and he never left.

He spent the next three decades working on screens large and small. In addition to earning a Best Supporting Actor nomination for “Forrest Gump” he snagged honors for the 1995 film “Truman” (Golden Globe, Best Actor in a Miniseries) and TV’s “George Wallace” (a Best Actor Emmy in 1997).

“Forrest Gump,” 1994. Robert Zemeckis. Gary Sinise. Paramount Pictures / Collection Christophel

He couldn’t let the character lovingly known as Lt. Dan go. Sinise took playing a wounded military veteran to heart, creating a second career supporting U.S. soldiers in profound ways.

His latest project fits snugly into that body of work. He’s an executive producer behind the documentary “Brothers After War.”

The film, opening Feb. 28 in limited release, finds director Jake Rademacher sharing footage from his time embedded with Marines during the Iraq War. We also meet veterans struggling to resume civilian life, and how their “brothers” help with that transition.

Depression, suicide, and PTSD are explored with sensitivity and real-world gravitas.

“It’s important that we do all we can to ensure the public does not forget about the men and women who have served and the families who supported them. This film is a tribute to their sacrifices, their resilience and their character,” Sinise told the Veterans of Foreign Wars site.

The film represents a fraction of the star’s commitment to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Sinise’s post-“Forrest Gump” military activism deserves a biopic all its own. It unofficially started the year of the film’s release. Sinise accepted an invitation to appear at the National Convention of the Disabled American Veterans.

“Forrest Gump” showed Lt. Dan Taylor losing both legs during his combat tour. It’s a critical part of his character’s emotional arc, one that resonated with real-life heroes.

“I walked on stage and there were 2,000 wounded veterans out there, screaming and yelling like I’m Elvis or something. I looked out and saw these people in wheelchairs and everything and I just broke down. I got very emotional,” Sinise told Forbes in an interview celebrating the film’s 30th anniversary.

He took that experience to heart, along with visiting troops following the attacks on September 11, 2001. He splintered his bustling career into two distinct tracks.

He bounced between film and TV projects, including gigs on “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” as well as “CSI: NY” for nine seasons. All the while he kept up his commitment to helping veterans in any way possible.

Suzi Pratt/Getty Images

The star formed the Lt. Dan Band in 2003, giving soldiers a respite from their life-and-death responsibilities. The band’s motto? Honor. Gratitude. Rock and Roll. And a few pop hits like “Frozen’s” “Let It Go” for good measure.

The actor plays bass guitar for the group, which performs for service members across the globe. At 69, he’s still at it with several gigs slated for 2025 including a March 21 date at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Last August, Sinise’s Band made its Grand Ole Opry debut.

Gary Sinise Foundation/Instagram.

He founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, a nonprofit dedicated to “creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.” To date, the foundation has raised more than $400 million for military families since its inception.

The nonprofit’s programs include R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment) that builds smart homes for wounded veterans and first responders.

He’s earned just about every award possible for his military efforts, including two from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment. The Presidential Citizens Medal came for his exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images

One unacknowledged benefit from Sinise’s activism? Hollywood has been far more empathetic to the U.S. Military in recent years, another possible side effect of Sinise’s extreme charity.

Gone are the days of “In the Valley of Elah,” “Rendition” and “Lions for Lambs,” all released during President George W. Bush’s administration. Those films often cast soldiers in a negative light, often to score partisan points.

Later films like “American Sniper” (2014), “Lone Survivor” (2013) and especially “Thank You for Your Service” (2017) echo the gratitude Sinise brings to his charitable efforts.

Perhaps the most remarkable part of Sinise’s activism is its apolitical nature. He’s given back without taking sides in the culture wars, and he keeps his military efforts free of ideological trappings.

Sinise’s Hollywood career never floundered despite his extensive military work. He voluntarily stepped back from the industry in 2019, though, to care for ailing family members. His wife Moira Harris was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and their son McCanna Anthony Sinise suffered from a rare spinal cancer condition.

The 33-year-old musician passed away last year, while Harris is in remission. The actor assembled some of his son’s music for last year’s posthumous projects “Resurrection & Revival” and its follow-up, “Resurrection & Revival Part Two.”

The only honor missing from Sinise’s mantle is one that’s sorely overdue. It’s well past time for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize one of the industry’s most talented, selfless artists with an honorary Oscar.

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Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of HollywoodInToto.com. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at HollywoodInToto.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.