Gary Alan Sinise is an American actor, best known for a number of memorable roles, including Lt. Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump, George Milton in Of Mice and Men, and as Mac Taylor in CSI: NY.
Biography[]
Sinise was born in Blue Island, Illinois, on March 17, 1955. His parents were Robert L. Sinise and Mylles Sinise. Sinise graduated from Highland Park High School and Illinois State University. In 1974, Sinise and two friends, Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry, founded the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, which has since showcased the talents of numerous notable actors. Sinise took advantage of the company to hone his acting and directing skills. As a result of his efforts, he received a Joseph Jefferson Award for his direction of the play Orphans. Sinise worked on a final total of more than thirty of the company's productions.
In 1982, Sinise's career as an actor began to take off when he directed and starred in the company's production of True West. The following year, he earned an Obie Award for his direction, and a year later, he appeared in the PBS' American Playhouse production of True West. In 1988, Sinise directed Miles from Home, which was about two brothers' fight against the foreclosure of the family farm. Sinise also starred and collaborated with fellow actor Tom Hanks three times in Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, and The Green Mile. Other noteworthy films he has appeared in include Of Mice and Men (which he directed), Reindeer Games, Snake Eyes, Ransom, Mission to Mars, The Stand and Impostor. In addition, he narrated the audio-books for John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley.
In 2004, he starred in his first TV series, the crime drama CSI: New York, in which he portrays Detective Mac Taylor, his first role as a series regular. He was credited as a producer from the show's second season and onward, also writing the storyline of one episode. Several episodes have allowed Sinise to demonstrate his musical prowess, including an episode where his character plays the bass guitar in a jazz club with several other musicians. Apart from his works in TV and movies, Sinise is the host in the video for the Epcot ride Mission: SPACE, located at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida; as well as a model for Baume & Mercier watches. He also co-founded Operation Iraqi Children and narrated the Discovery Channel miniseries When We Left Earth in 2008.
Sinise was awarded the Presidential Citizen Medal by then-U.S. President George W. Bush for work he did supporting the U.S. military and humanitarian work supporting Iraqi children. He narrated Army and Army Reserve Army Strong recruitment ads in late 2008, and is also the National Spokesperson for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. Sinise is an executive producer of the Iraq War documentary Brothers at War, which features an American military family and the experiences of three brothers. In November 2009, Sinise narrated the highly acclaimed World War II in HD on the History Channel. The following year, he narrated the World War II documentary Missions That Changed The War on the Military Channel. In his personal life, Sinise married actress Moira Harris in 1981. The two had three children with her: Sophie, McCanna Anthony, and Ella.
On Criminal Minds[]
Sinise portrayed Unit Chief Jack Garrett, the leader of the FBI's International Unit, in the Season Ten episode "Beyond Borders". He continued to star in the role in the Criminal Minds spin-off Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders until its cancellation in 2017.
Filmography[]
- 13 Reasons Why - 10 episodes (2020) - Robert Ellman
- I Still Believe (2020) - Tom
- SGT. Will Gardner (2019) - Larry
- Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders - 26 episodes (2016-2017) - Jack Garrett
- Beyond Glory (2015) - Military Voice
- Criminal Minds - "Beyond Borders" (2015) TV Episode- Jack Garrett
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - The Smithsonian Narrator (voice)
- CSI: NY - The Final Season: A Day Off With (2014) - Mac Taylor
- CSI: NY - 187 episodes (2004-2013) - Mac Taylor
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2013) - Mac Taylor
- Beyond All Boundaries (2009) - Ernie Pyle - Scripps Howard News Service Correspondent (voice)
- CSI: NY (2008) - Detective Mac Taylor (voice, video game)
- Open Season (2006) - Shaw (voice)
- CSI: Miami - 2 episodes (2004-2005) - Mac Taylor
- Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005) - Gene Cernan (voice)
- The Forgotten (2004) - Dr. Jack Munce
- The Big Bounce (2004) - Ray Ritchie
- Fallen Angel (2003) - Terry McQuinn
- The Human Stain (2003) - Nathan Zuckerman
- Mission: Space (2003) - Capcom
- Hideous Man (2002) - Hideous Man
- A Gentleman's Game (2002) - Foster Pearse
- Path to War (2002) - George Wallace (uncredited)
- Made-Up (2002) - Duncan Tivey
- Impostor (2001) - Spencer Olham
- Bruno (2000) - Dino Battaglia
- Mission to Mars (2000) - Jim McConnell
- Reindeer Games (2000) - Gabriel
- The Green Mile (1999) - Burt Hammersmith
- All the Rage (1999) - Morgan
- That Championship Season (1999) - Tom Daley
- Snake Eyes (1998) - Commander Kevin Dunne
- George Wallace (1997) - George C. Wallace
- Ransom (1996) - Det. Jimmy Shaker
- Albino Alligator (1996) - Milo
- Apollo 13 (1995) - Ken Mattingly
- Frasier (1995) - Sid
- The Quick and the Dead (1995) - Marshall
- Forrest Gump (1994) - Lieutenant Dan Taylor
- The Stand - 4 episodes (1994) - Stu Redman
- Jack the Bear (1993) - Norman Strick
- The Witness (1993) - Young Soldier
- Of Mice and Men (1993) - George Milton
- A Midnight Clear (1992) - Vance 'Mother' Wilkins
- American Playhouse - 2 episodes (1984-1991) - Tom Joad / Austin
- Hunter (1990) - Lord Tony Rutherford
- The Final Days (1990) - Richard Ben-Veniste
- My Name Is Bill W. (1989) - Ebby
- Crime Story - 2 episodes (1986-1987) - Howie Dressler
- Family Secrets (1984) - Motorcyclist
- Knots Landing (1980) - Lee Maddox
- A Wedding (1978) - Extra (uncredited)
Producer[]
- Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016-2017) - Producer
- CSI: NY - 181 episodes (2005-2013) - Producer
- Brothers at War (2009) - Executive Producer
- Imposter (2001) - Producer
- That Championship Season (1999) - Executive Producer
- Of Mice and Men (1992) - Producer
Director[]
- Of Mice and Men (1992)
- China Beach (1991) - 1 episode
- Thirtysomething (1989) - 2 episodes
- Miles From Home (1988)
- Crime Story (1987) - 2 episodes
Writer[]
- CSI:NY (2008) - 1 episode
- CSI: NY (2006) - 1 episode (story by)
Soundtrack[]
- The Stand (1994) - performer: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
For a full filmography, see here.
Notes[]
- Sinise is a longtime friend of Joe Mantegna, the actor who portrays David Rossi on Criminal Minds. The two actors have hosted the National Memorial Concert Day since 2006. Mantegna is also a public supporter of Sinise's charity organization, the Gary Sinise Foundation.
- During the initial planning stages for Beyond Borders, Mantegna introduced Sinise to showrunner Erica Messer, who decided Sinise was the perfect candidate for the role of Jack Garrett.
- Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders is actually Sinise's second CBS spin-off series, as well as his second role as a series regular on a TV series. He previously starred in CSI: NY, which ran for nine seasons from 2004 to 2013.