Hollywood actor and longtime advocate Gary Sinise announced Tuesday that his son has died at the age of 33 after a long battle against a rare type of cancer.
Sinise posted a link to a letter on his foundation's website about the death of his son Makana last month.
“In honor and memory of Anthony McSennis: 1990-2024,” the post read.
Message from Gary. https://t.co/Bb2ji85bSi pic.twitter.com/Jhlrx6q9W9
– Gary Sinise (@GarySinise) February 27, 2024
In a long tribute to Mack signed by his grieving father, Sinise told the world that his son died on January 5 and was buried weeks later on January 23.
He explained that his son's diagnosis came five years ago while his wife was battling breast cancer.
“The summer of 2018 was a particularly difficult time for our family,” the “Forrest Gump” actor wrote. “In June of that year, my wife Moira was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, and after surgery to remove lymph nodes, she began chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“Then, on August 8th, we found out that Mac had been diagnosed with a very rare cancer called Chordoma. What was happening? What is a chordoma? I had never heard of this before and two cancer patients, mother and son, two months apart from each other?”
Sinise described the double cancer diagnosis of those he loved most as “a real punch in the gut” for him.
The actor referred to Chordoma as a “one in a million cancer” that affects only 300 Americans on average per year.
“In 70% of cases, the primary tumor can be removed and is cured,” Sinise wrote. “But in 30% of cases, probably about 90 people a year, the cancer comes back.”
He said his son battled cancer for five years before he was hospitalized for the final time in December.
“He gave his family and friends so much during his 33 years, and he accomplished great things in those final months,” Sinise wrote.
The actor said that Mac spent most of his time in his final months working on inspirational music, which came in an album called “Resurrection and Revival.” The record, which features his group, Lt. Dan Band, will be released soon, and proceeds will go to the Gary Sinise Foundation at Mac's request, Sinise said.
“Thank you, Mac. You did it.”
Sinise said his son “was a man who loved his Catholic faith, and there is no doubt that his strong faith helped him through the horrific five-and-a-half-year battle with this cord cancer.”
“We are blessed to have you in our lives as a son, brother and friend…and we will miss and love you forever,” he wrote.
Sinise signed the statement as “the proud father of Mac Sinise.”
Mac Sinise graduated from the University of Southern California Thorton School of Music.
He was an avid composer, drummer and songwriter, his father wrote.
This article originally appeared in The Western Journal.
