7 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Forrest Gump’ Star Gary Sinise
He’s been a detective (or, at least, he played the role of one), a lieutenant (also acting), and a humanitarian (that one is real!). From Forrest Gump to CSI: NY, you’ve seen the awe-inspiring Gary Sinise tackle dozens of roles on your TV and movie screens over the years, but how much do you REALLY know about the man behind the mythos? As we celebrate this legend’s 70th birthday on March 17, here are some lesser-known facts about the man of the hour!
1 He wasn’t always an actor
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With such a long, diverse resumé, one might assume that acting was Sinise’s lifelong passion, but that wasn’t the case. During his days at Highland Park High School, he was much more focused on playing sports and music, both obsessions that lessened his enthusiasm for academics. Things changed when his school’s drama teacher urged him to audition for their production of West Side Story. He snagged a role after his very first attempt, fell in love with the stage, and his life was changed forever.
2 He created one of Chicago’s greatest theater companies
A few years removed from high school, Sinise found himself completely immersed in his acting passion, so much so that he and his friend Jeff Perry created the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in a less-than-impressive church basement. Eventually moving its headquarters into Chicago in 1980, the company remains a fixture of the city’s theatrical scene, thanks partly to its success in launching the careers of stars like Laurie Metcalf, John Malkovich and Gary Cole.
3 He’s seen a million soldiers, and he’s rocked them all
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Combining his passion for music and gratitude for our military, Sinise teamed with musician Kimo Williams in 2003 to create The Lieutenant Dan Band (named after his memorable character in Forrest Gump). Visiting military bases all over the world, the band has played hundreds of shows over the years for those who serve our country and their families.
4 He’s Gotten High With Spies (and Then Made a Documentary About it)
Back in 2011, Sinise was invited to complete a rigorous day of training at the elite Beale Air Force Base in California. The highlight of his visit was the opportunity to fly in a U2 “Dragon Lady” spy plane, joining the exclusive ranks of less than 1,000 people in the last 50 years to experience this physically-taxing flight (which requires wearing a space suit and reaching heights of 70,000 feet). Sinise recorded this entire process for his documentary about the Air Force base, High Flight.
5 He Wore Real Military Dog Tags in Forrest Gump
Everett Collection
While playing the role of Lt. Dan, Sinise was outfitted with rosary dog tags to wear as part of his on-camera costume. However, the actor had something more meaningful in mind – real tags given to him by his brother-in-law, former Vietnam combat medic Jack Treese. Sinise believed that wearing tags that had actually seen time in the trenches would be more meaningful than donning the fake ones, so he switched them out to honor his brother-in-law’s efforts.
6 He Was Destined for His Role in Apollo 13
Universal/courtesy Everett Collection
In Forrest Gump, Sinise’s Lt. Dan sarcastically jokes that if Forrest ever became a shrimp boat captain, he would become an astronaut. As we all know, Forrest eventually got his shrimp boat, and fate wouldn’t forget Sinise’s memorable (if fictional) promise. One year after Forrest, Sinise starred in Apollo 13 as astronaut Ken Mattingly along with Tom Hanks.
7 His Efforts to Celebrate Veterans Have Not Gone Unnoticed
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Sinise’s commitment to supporting those who fought for our country hit new heights in 2011 with the creation of the Gary Sinise Foundation, through which he has both given and raised generous amounts of money to support the needs of our soldiers and veterans. Deservedly, his efforts have often been recognized by the military community with distinctions like the 2011 USO Patriot Award, 2015’s Noble Award, 2020’s Congressional Medal of Honor Society Patriot Award, and many others. He’s also been named an honorary Chief Petty Officer by the United States Navy, an Honorary Marine by the United States Marine Corp, and an Honorary Battalion Chief of the Fire Department of New York.
Remind 