Upamanyu Biswas
‘American Sniper’ tells a gripping tale of action, endeavor, and sacrifice through the eyes of Chris Kyle, a former Navy SEALs sniper responsible for 160 confirmed kills during multiple tours in Iraq. Although dramatized in certain moments, the film is a testament to Chris’ incredible story, as we see it unfold on screen from two different angles – his personal life and the life of a military man embroiled in violence and war. To that end, his wife, Taya Kyle, played a huge role in shaping the different aspects of his existence, including raising their children and helping Chris regain his poise after serving time abroad on stressful missions. As depicted in the movie, she was a shining light in his life and an anchor who kept him grounded despite the difficulties he faced overseas.
Taya and Chris Kyle Married Not Long After Their First Meeting
As the daughter of the former mayor of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Taya Kyle, formerly known as Taya Renae Studebaker, was born on September 4, 1974, in Portland, Oregon. While growing up, she described herself as a spiritual person and someone who felt a “strong connection to God.” The church became of special importance to her during her twenties, even though she also shared an interest in psychology and sociology. She met Chris Kyle at a bar in San Diego, California, in April 2001 while working as a pharmaceutical sales representative. During the encounter, she recalled how his impressive career path intrigued her despite the fact that she held no interest in ever marrying a Navy SEAL. Still, he slowly managed to change her mind the more time they spent together as a couple.
Six months after their initial meeting at the bar, the duo got engaged. Taya explained that although she had long held the belief that she wanted to be an independent woman taking on the world’s challenges, she felt that God was telling her that companionship was not a bad idea. “I was mad about that! It didn’t fit my vision. But when I finally submitted to it, I remember asking God to just bring me someone kind, with a good heart,” she said. On March 16, 2002, the couple married in Santa Fe, Texas, exchanging wedding bands with inscriptions that eternalized their attachment. Their love and commitment got stronger after they tied the knot, starting a new phase in their relationship. However, duty came knocking on Chris’ door.
Taya and Chris’ Relationship Was Packed With Challenges
While marriage brought its own issues, Taya also had to deal with the fact that she was mostly handling family life by herself. Chris was deployed on four tours to Iraq, during which he garnered a reputation as a lethal shooter and one of the most effective marksmen in military history. The couple also gave birth to two children during this period – Colton and McKenna Kyle. While his missions abroad had a toll on his psyche, Taya stated that Chris would always find the time to be happy with his son and daughter. When he was away, she often found herself struggling with the responsibility of motherhood, loneliness, and fear for his life. Thus, it came as a relief to her when his stint with the army came to an end in 2009. As the family relocated to Midlothian, Texas, it became evident that Chris’s experiences on the battlefield had changed him.
The relationship hit a few snags here and there as Taya sensed that her husband was finding it tough to adjust to civilian life. He was prone to shutting her out and also suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. She even admitted that the duo sometimes did not make it out of the fire. Eventually, Chris found a way to turn things around as he chronicled his exploits in the bestselling memoir ‘American Sniper.’ Three years after returning home, the family found the correct balance, and Taya felt her husband had finally returned by her side. He also started working with veterans suffering from PTSD, helping them rehabilitate in his own way. However, tragedy struck on February 2, 2013, when Chris and his friend, Chad Littlefield, were murdered by an Iraqi veteran named Eddie Ray Routh while out shooting at Rough Creek Lodge shooting range in Texas.
Taya Kyle Honored Her Husband’s Legacy in Meaningful Ways
Chris’s death had a tremendous effect on Taya’s life as a wife and mother of two children. While grieving for her husband’s loss, she also had to involve herself in the legal proceedings relating to his murder trial. In the meantime, she tried to honor her husband’s memory through various avenues. She founded the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation in 2014 as a way to provide veterans and their families with meaningful interactive experiences that enhance and enrich their lives moving forward. The idea is a culmination of the work Chris had been carrying out since his retirement from the military. She is also the founder of the Taya and Chris Kyle Family Foundation, which is a program for active duty, former military, & first responders designed to help them navigate the challenges of their personal lives.
When the development of ‘American Sniper’ got underway, Taya served as a consultant for scriptwriter Jason Hall, providing personal details that captured the real-life events as much as possible. The film was released nationwide in early 2015, a few months before the court hearings for Chris and Chad Littlefield’s murder got underway. It was nominated for six awards at the 87th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. She attended the ceremony, using it as an opportunity to represent her husband. In February 2015, Eddie Ray Routh was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the killings of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. Taya was constantly present during the entire trial. In May, she co-authored a memoir with Jim DeFelice, titled ‘American Wife: Love, War, Faith, and Renewal,’ based on her experiences.
Taya Kyle is a Champion For Her Son’s Advocacy and Her Foundations Today
Despite battling grief, Taya Kyle continues to honor her husband’s legacy and beliefs through various speaking engagements, foundation work, and her personal social media platform. She has also expressed her political views in several forums, including pledging her support for Rick Perry in the 2016 presidential election. Today, she mainly concentrates on sharing her thoughts on spirituality, her husband’s memory, and her children’s work, especially those of her son Colton. In June 2024, she and her children appeared on ‘Huckabee Today,’ sharing their views on different forefronts, like their personal engagements and political landscape. They also discussed her debut children’s picture book ‘Prayers for Bears: Bailey the Grateful Bear, published in April by Fidelis Books.
As part of their heritage, Taya Kyle has been grateful for her children’s interest in the frontlines and pursuing their father’s legacy. For instance, her son Colton has taken over the American Sniper brand, capturing the same values that were of great importance to Chris. She expressed her gratitude for his involvement when he took to the stage for an event organized by the Taya and Chris Kyle Family Foundation in July 2024. She is active on social media, sharing thoughts on Christian concepts such as “crucifixion and resurrection.” She also divulged more on the topic of grief on the ‘Hope For The Heart’ podcast in April 2025, stating how Chris’ absence in the family’s life affects her children in different ways. Today, the 50-year-old is providing other veterans the chance of a better life through her organizations.
Read More: Eddie Ray Routh: Where is Chris Kyle’s Killer Now?
