Quote of the Day: Gary Sinise on the power of fame

Gary Sinise co-founded the Steppenwolf Theater Company in 1973 and began his stage career with a production of “True West,” among other projects. Since then, his performances in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “The Grapes of Wrath” have earned him Tony Award nominations. In addition to his strong theater background, Sinise is also known for his major roles in film and television.

Sinise’s first credited television role was in an episode of the ’80s soap opera “Knots Landing.” After that, the actor starred in the 1994 series adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Stand”, in which he played Stu Redman. Sinise also played Harry S. Truman in “Truman,” which earned him a Golden Globe. He went on to star in shows like “CSI: NY” and “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.” Sinise also won a Primetime Emmy for his title role in “George Wallace.”

Sinise also played Lt. Dan Taylor in “Forrest Gump,” for which he received an Academy Award nomination. He also appeared in films like “Of Mice and Men”, “Apollo 13”, “The Green Mile” and “Impostor”.

Sinise’s highly respectable acting career goes hand in hand with his extensive humanitarian work, which is why he is today’s quote of the day.

“I realized a long time ago that the blessing of being a celebrity, of succeeding in the entertainment business, can be a monumental tool or weapon to be used in a positive way.”

The quote above is from Sinise’s 2013 interview with the Saturday Evening Post. When asked if his fame has helped him achieve many things, Sinise claimed that fame can be used for good. “Of course, I had the challenge of adjusting to fame at first,” the actor said, speaking about how he “went from obscurity to being recognizable,” which can be difficult to deal with as a young actor.

“‘Forrest Gump’ came out, and all of a sudden I found myself in a big movie and things were starting to change,” Sinise added in the same interview. Despite these challenges, Sinise maintained that actions “speak louder than words” and that he does everything possible to inspire people and leave a positive impact. “I try to take action, and if I can inspire someone to do something positive that gives back and encourages others to do the same, then I feel like I’ve done a good job,” Sinise said.

Sinise’s quote should be contextualized in relation to his lifelong humanitarian work, which includes helping first responders and veterans with a focus on their mental health. Sinise received the Presidential Citizens’ Medal for his contributions in 2008. In 2011, he established the Gary Sinise Foundation to streamline these efforts, which also prioritizes youth education and support for disabled veterans.

“It’s not a side hustle that I do,” Sinise said. “I have traveled all over the world speaking to veterans and active duty military personnel, visiting hospitals and raising funds to help our wounded soldiers,” the actor said. “I saw some very sad things: the injuries our men and women suffered. And the grieving families who lost a loved one.”

Sinise’s quote argues that although fame can be overwhelming, it can be used to help anyone in need. The key is to turn intentions into actions that can inspire others to follow a similar path.

• “(On his humanitarian work) I spent many years doing this work. In the military community and the first responder community, they gave me a lot over the years. For a long time, I was just collecting all these amazing things and keeping them in the garage, with no place to put them. When I started the foundation, we said, ‘Let’s put this together. Let’s let people see it and enjoy it.'” — from an interview with Ability Magazine.
• “To me, we can never do enough for our veterans. I think the private sector and citizens have a responsibility to care for those who serve us, protect us, and defend us. That’s just my personal feeling. Each of us benefits from the freedoms that we enjoy because we have people who are willing to sacrifice for those freedoms.” — from a 2014 interview with City & State
• “(On returning to acting) It’s all about timing, and it’s all about the project and the people that would be involved in it. I was fortunate enough, you know, like I said, when you’re on TV on a hit show for nine years (“CSI: NY”), you can put money aside, and I was able to use that money for good, and you know, now I can kind of be selective about what I do for a living.” – via MovieGuide