by Gary Sinise
First published 2019
Gary Sinise chronicles his journey from a sports-obsessed Chicago teenager to one of America's most dedicated military supporters. His story begins with an impulsive audition for West Side Story that revealed his theatrical calling. Sinise and his friends built Steppenwolf Theatre Company from a church basement into a major force that launched careers including John Malkovich, Joan Allen, and Laurie Metcalf. Hollywood followed with roles in Of Mice and Men and The Stand, but playing Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump changed everything. The military community's response to his disabled veteran character opened Sinise's eyes to how poorly America treats its defenders. After September 11, he made supporting troops his mission. While starring in Apollo 13, CSI:NY, and other hits, Sinise entertained over half a million service members with his Lt. Dan Band, raised veteran funds, and founded the Gary Sinise Foundation. This memoir reveals how an unlikely advocate discovered his true purpose.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, autobiography, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, military-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-journey
Setting: Chicago, West Side
Period: September 11
272 pages · Hardcover · Thomas Nelson