Latest news with #CSI:NY
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actor, author, Harvard grad. Hill Harper is a Renaissance man. His biggest role: Single dad.
You probably know actor Hill Harper from his roles on CSI: NY and The Good Doctor. He's also an activist, author and entrepreneur. But of all Harper's accomplishments, his greatest pride is raising his son, Pierce, whom he adopted as a single dad nine years ago. 'I just want to make my son proud to be honest,' Harper tells Yahoo Life. 'I want him to be proud of me. I want him to be proud that he's a Harper. I want him to be proud that he's my son.' While Harper had earned three Ivy League degrees and authored a shelf of inspirational books by the time he became a dad at 49, he had never changed a diaper. He now talks expertly about reward jars and his 'old-school' approach to screen time, and rattles off Pierce's list of extracurriculars, from sports to learning Mandarin. 'As a single parent, you just have to figure it out and do the best you can and provide as much love and support as possible,' Harper says. You also have to lean on others when needed. 'There's a lot of people that are positive influences in his life that help me be a better parent,' he says. Harper says the word 'energized' best describes his mini-me. 'Right now, it's go, go, go,' he says of Pierce. 'I celebrate that because I really feel that motor or skill is going to serve him later in life' — even though 'it may not serve very well in a third-grade classroom when they want you to sit down and be quiet.' He helps channel Pierce's big energy into 'active' activities together, from playing catch to shooting hoops. Reading and journal-writing are also big at home. 'I'm just not a huge fan of electronics, so trying to navigate that is a tough one as a parent these days,' the actor says. 'I try not to do anything that reinforces video games. … I have pretty much a no-screen-time policy unless you earn it. He has the rest of his life to be in front of screens and talk to robots and AI.' Harper, who limits screen time to two hours a week max, jokes, 'He may be in therapy because of it later in life: 'My dad didn't let me play enough video games, so I wasn't able to talk to my friends online [and] in Roblox and Minecraft.'' Harper, 59, credits his age with helping him keep his cool. 'The plus of being an older parent is perspective,' he notes. 'I don't get that stressed out about him and his behavior,' he says. 'My younger version of myself would have been much more like: There's a right way and the wrong way, and you've got to do it this way. As you get older, you're like [shrugs]: There's different ways to do it.' Besides, 'If you're healthy, that's almost 90% of everything,' says Harper, who beat thyroid cancer after a 2010 diagnosis. 'If you're living pain-free, everything else is almost like you're playing with house money. When I was younger, I never thought that way. … So [I'm] just trying to keep my son healthy and mentally healthy and positive.' The downside to being an older parent? Pierce 'can almost, at 9, beat me in a race, which is just embarrassing.' Early on, Harper had some awkward moments being the single dad planning playdates with mostly moms, the typical gatekeepers of child activities. That's shifted. 'When [the kids are] younger, before more formal athletic stuff happens, it's really difficult being a single dad because you don't fit into the mom groups,' Harper says. 'But now that [Pierce is] old enough to do Little League or flag football or organized basketball, it's gotten much easier because the dads are bringing their kids. You're exchanging information with the parents of the [whole] team. … It's gotten much better.' Yet he's still reminded how mom-centric the world is, like when Pierce's friends ask about his family dynamic. 'A lot of the questioning is motivated by the kids he's around: 'Where's your mom?' 'How come I never see your mom?' 'Do you know who your mom is?'' Harper shares that while Pierce hasn't yet met his biological mom, 'it's open adoption, so I think that he'll choose to at some point. But that's when he chooses to, and most people think it's sometime in their teens when that's best to happen.' As his son's one and only, Harper says his role is 'trying to just be the best dad I can be — being as loving as I can, being as supportive as I can. I'll never make up for that lack of female presence and real maternal love that he hasn't received. But a lot of kids these days are being raised by single parents of different genders.' Harper is the first to tell you that he doesn't do it alone. He has a dynamic support system he's built in their home state of Michigan, where Harper made a bid for the open U.S. Senate seat last year. It starts with his 87-year-old mother, Dr. Marilyn Hill Harper, a trailblazer in medicine, who resides with them and their family dog, Spice. It also includes Pierce's nanny, teachers, coaches, tutors and their friends. 'As a single father, I think that you learn that you're enough in many ways, but you're also not enough,' he says. 'Meaning your capacity to support, love, protect and hopefully nurture your child is there. … But also you need other people.'
Irish Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dawson's Creek heartthrob unrecognisable nearly 20 years after show ends
Dawson's Creek became a TV sensation when it first aired in the late 90s, although of its stars looks almost unrecognisable. The series first aired back in 1998 and ran for six seasons before coming to an end in 2003. Although it had a short tenure on TV, it became an instant hit across the globe. One of the most beloved characters on the show as Jack McPhee (played by Kerr Smith) Despite not appearing in the first season, he became a hit when he joined in season two. The character arrived in Capeside alongside his twin sister, with the pair joining the high school late, although they certainly turned a few heads. Jack is best remembered on the show for struggling with his sexuality. Eventually, he came out as gay and made history as the first openly gay character to share a kiss on primetime TV. Fast forward nearly two decades since the show ended and actor Kerr Smith is embarcing a life away from the glitz and glam of Hollywood. The 53-year-old enjoys the great outdoors and takes time camping, cycling and skiing around the stunning mountains of Utah, where he now calls his home, reports the Mirror US. Now, Kerr sports a distinguished silver fox look, ditching his signature brown hair. Dawson's Creek fans may have spotted the actor over the years in different shows, including Charmed, CSI: NY, Eli Stone, The Fosters, and Agents of S. H. I. E. L. D. He also took on the role of Principal Holden Honey in the teen sensation Riverdale. Although he continues his acting endeavours, Kerr also has taken on a new career. Alongside his wife Lisa, he's the driving force behind TerraLife wellness company, championing holistic health coaching, functional nutrition, and natural hormone balancing. Kerr's personal life saw him previously wed to producer Harmoni Everett in 2003, but the marriage concluded in 2009. Dawson's Creek catapulted its stars to new heights, with James Van Der Beek securing roles in hits like How I Met Your Mother and Ugly Betty, while Joshua Jackson shone in Little Fires Everywhere and Fatal Attraction. Meredith Monroe appeared on Criminal Minds and 13 Reasons Why, and Michelle Williams snagged five Oscar nods for her performances in Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine, and The Fabelmans.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gary Sinise considering Hollywood comeback
Gary Sinise would make a Hollywood comeback - if the opportunity was right. The CSI: NY actor revealed he would return to the film and TV business if the circumstances aligned. "If the right thing came along, under the right circumstances, and it felt right and the timing was good and it didn't take me away from home too much, I would absolutely consider it," he shared during an interview with Fox News Digital. "It's all about timing, and it's all about the project and the people that would be involved in it. I've been blessed, you know, lwhen you're on television on a hit show for nine years, you can put some money away, and I've been able to use that money for good, and you know, now I can kind of be selective about what I'm doing in life." Back in 2019, Sinise took a break from Hollywood to care for his son McCanna, who died from cancer in 2024. "I had a blessed career and financially I did well. And I've been able to build a foundation. I've been able to take care of the family. I was able to take care of my son during a very difficult time. There were a lot of things I've been able to do because I had a successful movie and television career," Sinise shared.
New York Post
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Forest Gump' star Gary Sinise open to Hollywood comeback under ‘right circumstances'
Gary Sinise would make a Hollywood comeback — if the opportunity was right. During an interview with Fox News Digital ahead of the PBS National Memorial Day Concert, the actor said that he would return to the film and television business if the circumstances aligned. 'I can't leave home for the amount of time that I used to go and shoot a movie or something like that, but if the right thing came along — under the right circumstances and it felt right and the timing was good and it didn't take me away from home too much — I would absolutely consider it,' Sinise said. 'It's all about timing, and it's all about the project and the people that would be involved in it. I've been blessed, you know, like I said, when you're on television on a hit show for nine years ('CSI: NY'), you can put some money away, and I've been able to use that money for good, and you know, now I can kind of be selective about what I'm doing in life.' Back in 2019, Sinise took a break from Hollywood to care for his son McCanna, known as Mac, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called chordoma. Mac died from cancer in 2024. Sinise is grateful for his movie and TV career, giving him the financial freedom to care for his son during his final years. 3 Actor Gary Sinise said he would be open to making a comeback in Hollywood if the right opportunity came about. Photo by'I had a blessed career and I financially did well. And I've been able to build a foundation. I've been able to take care of the family. I was able to take care of my son during a very difficult time because he needed round-the-clock nursing care and that's not paid for by the insurance. So, there were a lot of things I've been able to do because I had a successful movie and television career,' said Sinise. 'If the right project came. I would consider it, no doubt. I'm not out there pounding the pavement right now. Occasionally doing a paid speech or paid narration or something that only takes a little bit of time, doesn't take me away from home too long,' he said. 'So, I put a little money away, and it helps keeps things flat, where I don't have to dip into the investments too much because I save those for special things that I want to support and donate to.' Sinise told Fox News Digital that there were projects he passed on to be home with his family. 3 Sinise in a scene from 'Apollos 13.' ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection 'There have been some things I've had to say I was unavailable for the amount of time that it would take. Some television series that would take me away from home, you know, every week and that kind of thing. I just can't do it with the situation that we're in now. With the family. I have to find the right… kind of thing,' he said. Sinise said he's been talking to some people about projects that would align with his current lifestyle. 'I'm talking to a few people about a couple of different things that would fit the lifestyle right now a little bit better. And that's important, you know. I got five grandkids. We're hoping for more. Leaving home for long periods of time is just not anything I want to do,' he said. 'I put in my time doing that for many years and had some great wonderful projects, and they took me away from home quite a bit when my kids were young.' 'Right now, I want to stay home a lot more, and I'm fulfilled with the mission of the Gary Sinise Foundation.' he admitted. The actor founded his foundation in 2011 to support veterans, first responders and their families through various programs, including smart homes, mental wellness initiatives and community outreach. Aside from running the Gary Sinise Foundation, the 'CSI: NY' actor will be returning for the 19th year as the PBS Memorial Day Concert's co-host. Sinise told Fox News Digital that he initially got involved in the event after being invited by Hollywood actor, Joe Mantegna. 3 Sinise as Lt. Dan in 'Forest Gump.' ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection 'He called me and said, 'Have you heard about the National Memorial Day Concert?' And I said, 'No, I haven't.' He said, 'Well, I just got involved with it a couple of years ago. It's a big concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol, and it's televised on PBS,'' Sinise said. Mantegna then invited Sinise and his band to perform at the 2005 Memorial Day concert. The following year, he was asked to come back and co-host with Mantegna. Sinise described the annual concert as a 'national memorial service for our fallen heroes.' 'Memorial Day is about remembering and honoring those who have sacrificed, given their lives in service to our country over the years. We still have over 130,000 Americans buried in 26 different cemeteries overseas because of the sacrifices that were made during World War II and what not. That's a lot of sacrifice to keep us free over the years,' he said. During the show, military service members and their families are showcased, and a spotlight is shined on those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The National Memorial Day Concert will air on PBS on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. The show can also be live-streamed on PBS on Memorial Day.
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
Gary Sinise says he's unsure about returning to acting after son's death
Gary Sinise is prioritizing family following the heartbreaking loss of his son. In an interview with People published Wednesday, the actor, known for his roles in "Forrest Gump," "Apollo 13," "The Green Mile," and "CSI: NY," opened up about life after the death of his son Mac Sinise, who died in January 2024 at age 33 from chordoma, a rare form of cancer. Mac was diagnosed in 2018, the same year Sinise's wife, actress Moira Harris, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She is now cancer-free after undergoing months of treatment. "It looked like a monster grabbing my son's spine," Sinise raid, describing the MRI scan that revealed his son had chordoma. "It was a one-two punch." Chordoma is a slow-growing cancer of tissue found inside the spine, according to the National Cancer Institute, which states that 1 in 1 million people worldwide are diagnosed with the disease each year. Also known as notochordal sarcoma, it is most often found near the tailbone (called a sacral chordoma) or where the spine meets the skull (called a clival chordoma), according to the NCI. The average survival is around 10 years after diagnosis depending on where the tumor is and how much can be removed by surgery, according to the agency. Sinise shared that he first stepped away from acting in 2020, when Mac spent six of the first eight months of the year in the hospital. "I started putting everything I had into trying to find a miracle for Mac," he said. "I didn't want Mac to be thinking of the next treatment or to worry. So I thought about cancer all the time. You're trying to take the pain away. A few times I felt like I couldn't do enough, or I didn't know what to do. Then you say a little prayer, get back up and go back into the fight." Now, in the aftermath of Mac's death, Sinise said he finds comfort in being close to home and is unsure whether he'll return to acting. "Something may come along and it'll be right, but it's harder to leave home now," he explained. "I just want to be around family. Since losing Mac, I hold my daughters a lot tighter. You think about the things that are really important." Sinise previously addressed his son's death in a tribute page on the Gary Sinise Foundation website. The nonprofit offers programs and services for wounded military veterans. "Over the years I have met so many families of our fallen heroes. It's heartbreaking, and it's just damn hard," he wrote. "Our family's cancer fight lasted for 5 1/2 years, and it became more and more challenging as time went on. While our hearts ache at missing him, we are comforted in knowing that Mac is no longer struggling, and inspired and moved by how he managed it. He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying." "Mac loved movies, and we always told him he reminded us of the soldier at the end of the extraordinary film 1917, running through the battlefield, bombs going off all around him, knocking him down one after the other, yet he keeps getting back up, refusing to quit and keeps running forward," he continued. "I am so blessed, fortunate, and proud to be his dad."
