Gary Sinise

Gary Alan Sinise was born on March 17, 1955 in Blue Island, Illinois. His father is film editor Robert L. Sinise, and his mother is Millie Sinise. He has one younger brother, and one younger sister. His family moved to Highland Park, Illinois and he attended Highland Park High School. He wasn’t the greatest student, and preferred playing music in rock bands to studying. His first acting experience was in a high school production of "West Side Story", and after that he knew it was what he wanted to do with his life.

In 1974, Sinise and two friends, actors Terry Kinney, and Jeff Perry, founded the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois. He gained more theater experience, including directing experience, there. His Hollywood directing debut was in 1986 on the television series, Crime Story. The first film he directed was Miles from Home (1988). In 1992 he both acted in and directed the critically acclaimed film, Of Mice and Men (1992). He didn’t truly gain the public’s attention until 1994, when he starred in two major roles - one on the television miniseries The Stand, and another in the film, Forrest Gump as Lieutenant Dan Taylor, for which he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. After that, the roles poured in, and he starred in films such as Apollo 13 (1995) and Ransom (1996). He can be currently seen on television, starring on the crime drama, CSI: NY.

Sinise has been married to actress Moira Harris since 1981. The couple met when they were both original members of the Steppenwolf company. They have three children, named Sophie, McCanna, and Ella.