Gary Sinise reveals what would get him to return to acting six years after leaving Hollywood to take care of sick son and wife

Gary Sinise has not acted since 2020 when he left Hollywood to take care of his sick son and wife and now he has revealed the circumstances which would get him to film again.The 71-year-old actor, who is best known for portraying Lieutenant Dan in 1994 classic Forrest Gump, famously abandoned his career to take care of his son McCanna 'Mac' Sinise who was battling a rare form of cancer until his tragic death at 33 in January 2024 and his wife Moira, 72, who battled stage 3 breast cancer. With both his daughters unable to care for Mac and Moira due to family and career obligations, Gary took it upon himself to take the lead in caretaking duties while also juggling a gig on popular Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and attending events for his Gary Sinise Foundation, which gives aid to veterans and first responders.And when that aforementioned series ended in 2020, the Of Mice and Men star took it upon himself to step away from acting entirely.Now, six years later he has revealed to People magazine what would get him to return to acting and, of course, family remains paramount. Gary said: ' I don’t think I can do the kind of thing I used to do, which is pick up and go away for two or three months. Gary Sinise has not acted since 2020 when he left Hollywood to take care of his sick son and wife and now he has revealed the circumstances which would get him to film again (Above, in the series Criminal Minds in 2016) The 71-year-old actor famously abandoned his career to take care of his son McCanna 'Mac' Sinise who was battling a rare form of cancer until his tragic death at 33 in January 2024 (Above in 2023) He is best known for portraying Lieutenant Dan in 1994 classic Forrest Gump'Actors have to pick up and move sometimes because you’re shooting for two or three months somewhere. And if you have a big role, you’ve got to be there all the time. I can’t do that anymore. Nor would I want to leave the family for that long.'Gary has a very fulfilling life living near all of his family just outside of Nashville, Tennessee including cancer survivor wife Moira.The two have two daughters, Sophie, 38, and Ella, 34, along with six grandchildren total under the age of ten in addition to Gary's mother who will be 95-years-old soon.The actor expressed that spending time with these people is more important than any acting gig could be as he explained: 'I want to be around them. 'I want to be around my little grandkids. My wife, I want to be around her. And my mom. I can go away for two or three nights, not two or three months.'Gary has had a very successful career including roles in the aforementioned Forrest Gump (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Of Mice and Men (1992), and Ransom (1996).When talking about why he left Hollywood, he said: 'Family was the priority. One of the blessings is that I had succeeded in Hollywood, and I could afford to be there for my family 24/7.'The star was also open about his family's health struggles as he revealed some heartbreaking details about his son McCanna 'Mac' Sinise's final years of life. Mac had battled rare spinal cancer Chordoma which was diagnosed in August 2018, however, that was not the only devastating diagnosis in the family as two months prior, his wife Moira, now 72, had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer (Above, Gary and Moira in 2017) Gary was juggling a gig on popular Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and when that aforementioned series ended in 2020, the star took it upon himself to step away from acting Above, Gary with John Malkovich in 1992's Of Mice and MenMac had battled rare spinal cancer Chordoma which was diagnosed in August 2018, however, that was not the only devastating diagnosis in the family as two months prior, his wife Moira had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.Chordoma is part of a family of cancers called sarcoma, which include cancers of the bones, cartilage, muscles and other connective tissue and is generally slow growing, but are relentless and tend to recur after treatment according to the Chordoma Foundation. It only affects 300 people in the US per year.Gary, Moira, and their two daughters Sophie and Ella sat down for the interview with People as the actor candidly discussed his son's battle with the rare cancer as he said: 'His chest looked like rocks were pressing out from beneath his skin.'Mac had to be put in a wheelchair as the nerve damage from tumors and surgeries had paralyzed him from the chest down, but that did not stop the young man from remaining vigilant.'He was such a light,' older daughter Sophie said. 'He made you feel better when you walked in the room.'As if that wasn't already enough, the actor even tried to research Chordoma as much as he could in order to try and save his beloved son.The actor explained: 'Mac tried 25 different drugs over a four-and-a-half year period. I never lost hope that we were going to hit the sweet spot.'Gary said that spending time with wounded warriors from his foundation helped him gain strength through the overwhelming time. Now, six years later he has revealed to People magazine what would get him to return to acting and, of course, family remains paramount as he said he cannot be away from them for more than a few days. Above, Gary in New York in February 2019 Gary and Moira also have two daughters, Sophie, 38, and Ella, 34, as the family sat down for an interview together for a new feature published by People magazine on ThursdayHe explained: 'I’ve seen pretty banged-up folks over the years, and I’ve seen how families have dealt with somebody paralyzed from the neck down, blind or burned from head to toe. Watching them live with courage prepared me to be a better caregiver and a better dad.'Unfortunately, Mac's condition took a turn for the worse as he lost his ability to move but still kept pushing as he continued to practice his Catholic faith at mass, learned to play harmonica, and even watched Chicago Cubs games and prayed alongside his mom while both in wheelchairs. Gary likened Mac's fighting spirit to the hero soldier in Sam Mendes's Oscar winning war epic 1917 who was 'running through the battlefield, bombs knocking you down, and you’re still getting back up.'We didn’t get the miracle we were all praying for, but there were other miracles, like the way Mac lived his life. He sure showed us grace under fire.'Unfortunately, on January 5, 2024, Mac passed away while surrounded by his entire family. Weeks later, Gary revealed that his son had passed away following a years-long battle with the rare spinal cancer Chordoma in a post shared to the Gary Sinise Foundation's website at the time.Mac had worked with the foundation and had supported his father's Lt Dan Band as a fill-in drummer until repeated spinal surgeries and the advancement of his cancer in recent years forced him to step away. Gary candidly discussed his son's battle with the rare cancer as he said: 'His chest looked like rocks were pressing out from beneath his skin' In February 2024, Gary revealed that his son had passed away following a years-long battle with the rare spinal cancer Chordoma in a post shared to the Gary Sinise Foundation's website WHAT IS CHORDOMA? Chordoma is a rare type of cancer in the bones of the skull and spine.It is part of a family of cancers called sarcoma, which include cancers of the bones, cartilage, muscles and other connective tissue. Chordomas are generally slow growing, but are relentless and tend to recur after treatment.Because of their proximity to critical structures such as the spinal cord, brainstem, nerves and arteries, they are difficult to treat and require highly specialised care.1 in 125,000 people live with chordoma, and it mostly occurs in older people. There are no approved drugs to treat it.Source: Chordoma Foundation 'I am so blessed, fortunate, and proud to be his dad,' Sinise wrote in his moving obituary.In a lengthy tribute to his son, Sinise recalled the twin tragedies of 2018, when his wife Moira was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in June, before Mac received his chordoma diagnosis in August. Despite his worsening condition and difficult treatments, Sinise wrote that his son continued to come into the foundation's office regularly, and after he was unable to he continued to work behind the scenes.The actor revealed that Mac's final project for the foundation was a podcast interview with father and son.