CSI: NY star Gary Sinise’s son McCanna dead at 33: ‘Our hearts ache’

Heartbroken CSI: NY Gary Sinise has shared sad news about the passing of his son, McCanna “Mac” Sinise.

Gary Sinise, the star of CSI: NY, has revealed that his son, McCanna “Mac” Sinise, died at 33.

Mac died January 5 after a five-and-a-half year battle with chordoma, a rare form of cancer, reports theNew York Post.

On Tuesday, the Gary Sinise Foundation took to Instagram to share a picture of Mac with the caption, “In Honour & Memory of McCanna ‘Mac’ Sinise 1990-2024.”

Sinise, 68, had Mac with his wife, Moira Harris – the couple has been married since 1981, and also have daughters Sophie and Ella.

Gary Sinise’s son McCanna “Mac” Sinise has died aged 33. Picture: Gary Sinise Foundation

Sinise, who has won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Tony, is also known for Forrest Gump, Apollo 13 and The Green Mile.

In a message shared on the Gary Sinise Foundation website, Sinise opened up about his son.

“Like any family experiencing such a loss, we are heartbroken and have been managing as best we can,” he wrote.

The actor shared the sad news on Instagram and his Gary Sinise Foundation page. Picture: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Mac died from chordoma, a rare form of cancer. Picture: Gary Sinise Foundation

“As parents, it is so difficult losing a child. My heart goes out to all who have suffered a similar loss, and to anyone who has lost a loved one. We’ve all experienced it in some way. Over the years I have met so many families of our fallen heroes. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s just damn hard.

“Our family’s cancer fight lasted for 5 ½ years, and it became more and more challenging as time went on. While our hearts ache at missing him, we are comforted in knowing that Mac is no longer struggling, and inspired and moved by how he managed it.”

Mac was working on an album in the lead up to his sad passing. Picture: Gary Sinise Foundation

The actor revealed that Mac and Moira both got cancer diagnoses in 2018 – Moira’s was breast cancer. Moira has since recovered.

“He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying,” Sinise went on. “Mac loved movies, and we always told him he reminded us of the soldier at the end of the extraordinary film 1917, running through the battlefield, bombs going off all around him, knocking him down one after the other, yet he keeps getting back up, refusing to quit and keeps running forward.”

Sinise included photos of himself with Mac, and anecdotes about his son’s skills at music.

Mac enjoyed drumming, and studied songwriting and composition at the USC Thorton School of Music, Sinise shared.

He also noted that Mac’s music videos can be seen on the Mac Sinise YouTube page, and that he was working on an album, Mac Sinise: Resurrection and Revival, that will be available at an unannounced date.

Sinise said that chordoma “is a one in a million cancer.”

Gary Sinise's son dead at 33.

“Originating in the spine, Chordoma affects, on average, only 300 people in the US per year,” he wrote. “In 70 per cent of the cases the initial tumour can be removed, and it is cured. But in 30 per cent of the cases, perhaps about 90 people per year, the cancer returns.”

Sinise shared his story because he and his family “hope to shine a little bit of light on what has been a difficult time.”

“Mac was truly a light for all of us,” he added.

Sinise’s wife and Mac’s mum Moira was also diagnosed with cancer in 2018, but she is now in remission. Picture: Sebastian Artz/Getty Images

“An incredible inspiration to those who knew and loved him, he faced his battle with grace, courage, and love. Even with one setback after another, he never stopped living and learning, creating, and giving, and loving. He loved all our family. His wonderful sisters, Sophie and Ella and their children, and while I worked hard to manage the day-to-day medical care, his beautiful mother Moira was his constant companion. He loved her so. His grandmother, his aunts and uncles, his cousins, his brothers in law, his caregivers Lulu and Mimi. There are so many friends he loved and who loved him.”

He continued, “Thank you, Mac. You did it. Resurrection & Revival will live on. And so will you. In our hearts forever. We were blessed to have you in our lives as son, brother, and friend … and we will miss you and love you for eternity.”

Sinise signed his note, “Gary Sinise Proud father of Mac Sinise.”

The Post reached out to Sinise’s reps for comment.

This article originally appeared in New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as CSI: NY star Gary Sinise’s son McCanna dead at 33: ‘Our hearts ache’