Gary Sinise

He was awarded the 1980 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for "Getting Out" at the Wisdom Brige Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

He was nominated for a 1981 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Balm in Gilead" at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

He was nominated for a 1982 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "True West" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

He was nominated for a 1984 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "Tracers" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

Was considered for the starring role in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). When he didn't get the part, he recommended that the producers hire William Petersen, which they did. Ironically, he is currently the star of "CSI: NY" (2004), the spin-off of Petersen's successful TV series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000).

He was nominated for a 1985 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a play for "Orphans" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

Gary appeared on screen with his spouse, Moira Sinise, in "Crime Story" (1986), portraying a married couple. Moira had a small role in Miles from Home (1988), the first feature Gary directed, but Moira's role was left on the cutting-room floor. Moira appeared as the "Girl in the Red Dress" in Of Mice and Men (1992).

The two episodes of "Crime Story" (1986) that he directed are the only times he has been credited as "Gary A. Sinise."

Has been nominated for Tony Awards three times: in 1990, as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play), for portraying Tom Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath," a role he recreated in the television version of the same title, "American Playhouse: The Grapes of Wrath (#10.11)" (1991); in 1996, as Best Director for a revival of Sam Shepard's "Buried Child;" and in 2001 as Best Actor (Play), for portraying Randle McMurphy in a revival of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

Shares a birthday with Rob Lowe, with whom he co-starred in "The Stand" (1994).

Formed the "Lt. Dan Band", a band consisting of several singers, guitarists, drummers and keyboardists. The band has a total of 12 members. Sinise plays bass guitar. The name is, of course, in homage to his character in Forrest Gump (1994), Lt. Dan".

Gary Sinise was born on March 17, 1955. In the movie Apollo 13 (1995), Gary Sinise played original Apollo 13 pilot, Kenneth Mattingly. Mattingly was born on March 17, 1936.

Nominated for a Tony Award for directing a new version of Sam Shepard's "Buried Child". [1996]

He was awarded the 1996 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "Buried Child" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

In 1997, played George Wallace in George Wallace (1997) (TV). He re-prised the role, uncredited, in Path to War (2002) (TV).

He was nominated for a 2000 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

He has played the same character (Detective Mac Taylor) on three different television series: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000), "CSI: Miami" (2002) and "CSI: NY" (2004).

Received his first college degree in 2003 - an honorary degree from Amherst College.

Founded Operation Iraqi Children (www.operationiraqichildren.org) in early 2004 with "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" author Laura Hillenbrand.

While most of the "CSI: NY" (2004) cast is from New York, Sinise is one of three exceptions. The others are Melina Kanakaredes (who was born in Ohio) and Anna Belknap (who was born in Maine). However, Sinise, Belknap and Kanakaredes have all lived in NY at some point in time.

On December 10, 2008, was awarded the United States of America Presidential Citizens Medal (which was established on November 13, 1969 to recognize U.S. citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation. The medal is bestowed by the President and may be conferred posthumously. The Presidential Citizens Medal is one of the highest honors the President can confer upon a civilian, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.) for his work with the USO and Operation Iraqi Children.

Along with his band, "Lt. Dan Band", he performed three shows in Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, and at the Coast Guard Base Kodiak on Kodiak Island. This was there second show in Kodiak after first visiting in 2010. [June 2012]

His band, "Lt. Dan Band", to date has performed for more than 240,000 troops and their families in the U.S., Belgium, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among others. They have performed in about 50 USO tours and 119 USO concerts. The band plays 30 to 40 shows each year, with 75 percent of those shows for charities, benefits or the USO. [June 2012]