Gary Sinise's 'Forrest Gump' Role Inspired Him To Change Lives

Aug 31, 2021 by apost team

Gary Sinise is a celebrated actor, not just for his roles but also for his real-life work with veterans. Most people remember Sinise from his role as Lt. Dan in the hit movie "Forrest Gump." However, Sinise has achieved much more than the movies he has starred in and continues to make an impact on hundreds of lives every year through his work at his foundation.

Moreover, he has also worked in theater as well as television series. He has won several accolades and awards for his movies, and most impressively, he has won various national honors for his humanitarian work with veterans. He continues to be recognized for his dedication to the United States troops even today.

Sinise also published a book, "Grateful American," in 2018 which details his life and experiences as he reflects on blessings, gratitude, and giving back to his community. This is not a typical memoir that celebrities write, but Sinise is no typical celebrity.

Even though his life has been lived honorably, he has been through difficulties and challenges that he has overcome with the support of his family. Even with his stature and success, however, Sinise has remained a humble man whose life mission does not waver. 

Though his identity as an actor has been prominent, his selfless dedication to making veteran lives better comes to the forefront every time. He may have not known how much his role as Lt. Dan would affect him when he first auditioned for it, but it has truly been a life-changing event, not just for Sinise but also for the hundreds of veterans who continue to be impacted because of his work. 

Gary Sinise is one of the most well-known actors of today. He has a cache of incredible roles, and his first merit was an Obie Award in 1982 for his direction of the Steppenwolf production "True West." His true breakthrough, however, came with his role as Lt. Dan in the acclaimed 1994 movie "Forrest Gump." Not only did this role earn him an Oscar nomination and put him on the map in Hollywood, but it also steered his life into a purpose that he has made into his life's work ever since. 

In the movie, Sinise's role as the bitter veteran who was disillusioned with his life after having to go through a double amputation while on active duty was powerful. His portrayal of the character eventually coming to terms with his disability and thriving later on in the movie remains with audiences for decades. His role resonated with veterans across America, which opened Sinise's eyes to the difficulties that veterans continue to face once they come back home. Speaking about his experience, Sinise told Saturday Evening Post, "Prior to doing the movie, I had been involved with Vietnam veterans groups, so I wanted to play that part very badly. But afterwards, vets reached out to me, and it just snowballed." 

He began the Lt. Dan Band in 2004, which he co-founded with musician Kimo Williams. He has since played hundreds of shows in front of active-duty troops and veterans, both in the United States and abroad. He also started the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, which has raised millions of dollars every year to create programs for military veterans and members in active duty to find communities and help for rehabilitation. Moreover, the foundation also provides smart homes for wounded veterans.  

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According to the foundation's website, "... each home is mortgage-free and fully customized to the unique needs of the hero and their loved ones." Sinise also spoke about this initiative and reiterated that smart homes were created with each individual in mind and molded according to unique needs. "We figure out the best way to make life easier with things like kitchens that can be operated with a smartphone and cabinets that drop down to wheelchair height at the push of a button," he added. 

Sinise has also experienced what the pain of losing someone who is a veteran feels like, reports TIME Magazine. He watched his brother-in-law, a Vietnam veteran who served as an Army medic, die of cancer, which affected him deeply. He also members from his family who served. "My grandfather served in World War I, my uncles in World War II and my dad was in Korea. But by the time I was old enough, they never really talked about their experiences," he told the Military Officers Association of America.

He continues to feel his purpose and duty towards veterans very deeply and wrote in his book, "Grateful American," that he was thanked for his "hard work" after his role as Lt. Dan in 1994. 

"Hard work?!" he wrote, along with co-writer Marcus Brotherton. "Compared to what the people in this ballroom have gone through, my job isn't close to hard work. All I do is find my mark, say my lines. Hard work is being far from home and up to your elbows in dust, crawling along the ground while the enemy shoots at you."

Sinise also urges people to reach out to veterans and talk to them, adding that you don't need a charitable foundation and millions of dollars to make a difference.

Did you know about Gary Sinise's efforts towards veterans? Tell us your thoughts, and be sure to tell your friends and family about Lt. Dan's life today!