Gary Sinise Draws Packed House at Cascade Theatre
Redding, CA — October 31, 2026
The Cascade Theatre in downtown Redding was filled to capacity Saturday night for an appearance by actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, presented by Simpson University and sponsored by the Reagan Foundation.
Jake Mangas served as host for the evening, while Ken White, Dean of Advancement at Simpson University, acted as master of ceremonies. The audience gave Sinise a warm reception as he shared thoughtful and contemplative reflections on his family, the long line of military service in his own family that first sparked his deep appreciation for veterans’ sacrifices, and the inspiration behind his new book, Graceful Warrior: The True Story of a Son, a Father, and a Family Who Carried Each Other Through.
Sinise spoke openly about the difficulties his family endured in 2018, when his wife of over 45 years, Moira, and their son Mac were diagnosed with cancer within two months of each other. Moira was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer; Mac was diagnosed with chordoma, an extremely rare form of cancer that originates in the spine. Moira recovered and has remained cancer-free. Mac battled the disease for more than five years before passing away in January 2024 at age 33. Throughout the ordeal, Sinise said, Mac exemplified the book's title—a hopeful, uncomplaining, and creative “graceful warrior.” A couple of years earlier, Mac had accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and been confirmed in the Catholic Church.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house after Sinise played a video set to music his son composed. Mac, a gifted drummer and composer who studied at the USC Thornton School of Music, completed the album Resurrection & Revival before his death; subsequent albums made from Mac's music, discovered after his passing, have continued to be released, with proceeds supporting the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Sinise took questions from the audience, and attendees thanked him for his years of dedication to veterans and their families. Many left describing him as an American hero who inspires people to be better, look out for one another, and bring out the best in each other no matter what they are going through.
After the presentation, Sinise signed books. He noted that proceeds from Graceful Warrior (set for release on November 10, Mac’s birthday) will support the Gary Sinise Foundation, which serves veterans, first responders, and their families. His earlier memoir, Grateful American, was a New York Times bestseller.
Sinise is best known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Dan Taylor in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination. He has also appeared in Apollo 13, Truman (for which he won a Golden Globe), Mission to Mars, and The Green Mile, and starred for nine seasons as Detective Mac Taylor on the television series CSI: NY, which concluded in 2013. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for his portrayal of George Wallace in the 1997 television film of the same name.
Beyond his screen work, Sinise has received widespread recognition for his humanitarian efforts, including the Presidential Citizens Medal from President George W. Bush, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Patriot Award, the Sylvanus Thayer Award from the West Point Association of Graduates, the George Catlett Marshall Medal from the Association of the United States Army, and the Spirit of the USO Award. The U.S. Navy also named him an honorary Chief Petty Officer, and the U.S. Marine Corps named him an Honorary Marine.
The Gary Sinise Foundation
For decades before founding his own organization, Gary Sinise quietly volunteered his time and money to support veterans and first responders, a commitment rooted in his family’s military service that intensified after 9/11 through USO tours, the Lt. Dan Band, and other efforts. That personal work led him to establish the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, whose mission is to honor our nation’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need by creating and supporting programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities. To learn more or donate, visit https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/.
