Gary Sinise photo by U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathan Lipscomb.
Gary Sinise event on Nov. 23.
Presented by the West Suburban Foundation for Disabled Veterans, the evening will feature a conversation with Sinise about his new book, Graceful Warrior: The True Story of a Son, a Father, and a Family Who Carried Each Other Through. The book marks a deeply personal chapter for the actor, best known for his roles in Forrest Gump, Apollo 13 and CSI: NY, as he reflects on his family’s experience with love, loss, faith and resilience.
The event is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn. Every attendee will receive a pre-signed copy of the book, and all proceeds will benefit the West Suburban Foundation for Disabled Veterans and its work supporting disabled veterans in the community.
Subscribe to Chicago Star’s Weekly City Buzz Newsletter
Sinise’s connection to veterans extends well beyond the screen. His portrayal of wounded Vietnam veteran Lt. Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump helped establish a lasting bond with the military community. He has spent decades advocating for veterans, service members and their families, founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011 and formed the Lt. Dan Band to entertain troops and support military-related charitable causes.
You may like these Chicago Star articles:
• Cheers to 30 years! Christkindlmarket debuts 2026 collectible collection
• Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy’s St. Charles estate hits market for $2.8 million
• More fall fun! Apple picking, hayrides and a pumpkin-eating dinosaur
His new book takes readers beyond his public life to the story of his son, McCanna “Mac” Sinise, a gifted musician and composer who died in January 2024 after battling chordoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Graceful Warrior, scheduled for release on Nov. 10, 2026, is a tribute to Mac’s life and the faith, love and perseverance that sustained the Sinise family through an extraordinarily difficult chapter.
The Glen Ellyn appearance offers audiences an opportunity to hear Sinise discuss that journey while supporting a local organization dedicated to disabled veterans. For the West Suburban Foundation for Disabled Veterans, the evening combines a personal conversation with a practical mission: raising funds to help veterans in the community.
Event details
What: An Evening with Gary Sinise, author of Graceful Warrior
When: Monday, Nov. 23, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn
Beneficiary: West Suburban Foundation for Disabled Veterans
Tickets and information: McAninch Arts Center
(Military, student and MAC subscriber discounts are available through the box office.)
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.