Widow of the Real American Sniper Calls Movie’s Success a ‘Blessing’

Taya Kyle, the wife of the most lethal sniper in U.S. history, says the man who inspired the box-office hit American Sniper was “the biggest kid” at heart.

In an interview with People, Kyle opens up about the loss of her husband, who was shot dead in 2013, allegedly by a fellow veteran who goes on trial next month.

“I miss those family dinners where we would joke with the kids,” Taya, 40, says. “I miss the way he laughed at the littlest things with me and the way the kids and I couldn’t wait for him to come home from work. I miss how Chris changed the feeling in the room when he was in it.”

American Sniper, which is based on Chris Kyle’s memoir, has grossed more than $200 million since its nationwide opening on Jan. 16, and it’s also earned six Oscar nominations.

Kyle says she’s comforted by the way her husband’s story is resonating with veterans and general audiences. “I can’t think of a better blessing,” she says.

Read more at People.com.