Gary Sinise

Sinise was born in Blue Island, Illinois, the son of Robert L. Sinise (born 1931), a film editor, and Mylles (Alsip) Sinise. His paternal grandfather was of Italian descent. Sinise's great-grandfather, Vito Sinisi, emigrated to the United States from Ripacandida, in the Italian region of Basilicata. Sinise briefly attended Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and later graduated from Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Illinois.

He attended Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, and has been a supportive alumnus of the university.In 1974, Sinise and two friends, Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry, founded the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois. Since then, Steppenwolf has showcased the talents of notable actors such as Joan Allen, Kevin Anderson, Gary Cole, Ethan Hawke, Glenne Headly, John Malkovich, John Mahoney, Laurie Metcalf, Martha Plimpton, Jim True-Frost, and William Petersen. Sinise honed his acting and directing skills at Steppenwolf.

In 1982, Sinise's career began to take off when he directed and starred in Steppenwolf's production of True West. In 1983, he earned an Obie Award for his direction, and a year later appeared with John Malkovich in the PBS' American Playhouse production of the play. Sinise received a Joseph Jefferson Award for his direction of Lyle Kessler's play Orphans in 1985. In 1988, Sinise directed Miles from Home, a film starring Richard Gere, about two brothers' fight against the foreclosure of the family farm.

Sinise earned the Regional Theatre Tony Award alongside the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. He has received a total of four Tony Award nominations, including nominations for his performances in The Grapes of Wrath and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

In 1992, Sinise starred in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic novel Of Mice and Men, which he also directed and produced. Sinise played George Milton alongside John Malkovich, who played Lennie. Subsequent roles include Lieutenant Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump (1994), for which Sinise was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has also appeared in Ron Howard's Apollo 13 (1995), Ransom (1996), Snake Eyes (1998), Frank Darabont's The Green Mile (1999), Reindeer Games (2000), Mission to Mars (2000), and Impostor (2002).

Sinise has collaborated with fellow actor Tom Hanks three times, in Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, and The Green Mile. He narrated the audiobooks for John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley.

In late 2002, Sinise began appearing in Cadillac commercials, starting with the 2002–2003 Season's Best commercial. He was with the Break Through campaign from 2002 to 2006.

In 2004, Sinise began his first regular television series, in the crime drama CSI: NY, in which he plays Detective Mac Taylor. He was credited as a producer from season two onwards and wrote the storyline of an episode. Several episodes have allowed Sinise to demonstrate his musical prowess, including a season-two episode where Mac Taylor plays the bass guitar in a jazz club with musicians Kimo and Carol Williams and Danny Gottlieb, members of the Lt. Dan Band, which Sinise and Kimo Williams co-founded in 2003. The band is named for Sinise's character in Forrest Gump.

Apart from his television and film work, Sinise has served as the host in the video for the Epcot ride Mission: SPACE at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida, and as a model for Baume & Mercier watches.

Sinise was the narrator for the Discovery Channel's miniseries When We Left Earth in 2008. Sinise is the executive producer—along with David Scantling—of the Iraq War documentary Brothers at War. The film features an American military family and the experiences of three brothers: Jake Rademacher, Isaac Rademacher, and Joseph Rademacher.

In November 2009, Sinise narrated the highly acclaimed World War II in HD on the History Channel. Also in 2009, Sinise lent his voice talents in the Thomas Nelson audio Bible production known as The Word of Promise, playing the character of David. In 2010, he narrated the World War II documentary Missions That Changed The War on the Military Channel.

From 2016 to 2017, Sinise played Special Agent Jack Garrett in Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

On April 17, 2017, Sinise received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in the television industry. The star is located at 6664 Hollywood Boulevard.

On October 30, 2017, Sinise was selected as Grand Marshal of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, which took place on January 1, 2018.

Sinise has been a regular celebrity narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional, appearing at Disneyland in 2011 and at Disney World in 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2019.