Gary Sinise’s Son, McCanna Anthony ‘Mac’ Sinise, Dead at 33: ‘Our Hearts Ache’

Gary Sinise’ son, McCanna Anthony ‘Mac’ Sinise, was diagnosed with a form of cancer called Chordoma in 2018 and died on Jan. 5

Gary Sinise‘s son, McCanna Anthony “Mac” Sinise, has died. He was 33.

Gary, 68, shared the news of Mac’s death in a statement shared to the Gary Sinise Foundation‘s website and his Instagram page Tuesday, writing that Mac died from cancer on Jan. 5.

The actor wrote that Mac had been diagnosed with a “very rare cancer” known as Chordoma on August 8, 2018. The disease originates in the spine and affects around 300 people in the U.S. each year, as he wrote.

The Forrest Gump star wrote that Mac’s diagnosis came just months after his wife Moira Harris received a stage three breast cancer diagnosis. While Moira went into remission and has remained cancer-free following treatment, Gary wrote that Mac’s disease spread over time and “disabled him more and more as time went on.”

Gary Sinise Foundation

Mac’s diagnosis came several months after he joined the Gary Sinise Foundation, a charity that works with military members, veterans, first responders and their families, as an assistant manager of education and outreach, Gary wrote in a statement. Mac was also “an exceptional drummer” who played shows with his father’s Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band act, Gary wrote.

In University of Southern California

Mac was a graduate of the University of Southern California and studied songwriting and composition on top of his drumming. Gary wrote that he underwent five separate spine surgeries between 2018 and 2020, and grew paralyzed from the chest down due to the disease’s effects on his body. Despite these limitations, Mac and several collaborators created an album titled Resurrection & Revival. Gary said that his son died the same week the album went to press.

 ‘Forrest Gump’ Star Gary Sinise Opens Up About Raising $30 Million Annually for Veterans

“Like any family experiencing such a loss, we are heartbroken and have been managing as best we can. As parents, it is so difficult losing a child,” Gary wrote in a statement. “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,” he added. “He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

spoke publicly for the first time About gary sinise

Sinise noted that he only spoke publicly for the first time about Mac’s illness in a December 2023 interview with Fox News, in which he highlighted the music Mac worked on in the final months of his life.

“Mac was living out a dream, bringing it to reality with his collaborating partner, Oliver,” Gary wrote. “It was incredibly motivating and therapeutic for him, and he was so excited to see it all come together.”

Mac is survived by his parents Gary and Moira, his sisters Sophie and Ella and their children, as well as his grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers in law and caregivers Lulu and Mimi, as Gary wrote in his announcement. Gary added that the family is ensuring Mac’s album, Mac Sinise: Resurrection and Revival, is released and pressed on vinyl.