Dear Kevin,

We’ve never met, but you’ve had a profound impact on our lives. My name is Kevin—just like you. My mom was a huge fan of your work, and when I was born in 2000, she decided to name me after you. She was a true movie lover, especially when it came to old films. She adored Charlie Chaplin and would always show me movies starring Jack Lemmon, Paul Newman, Gene Wilder, and Steve McQueen.

She raised me on her own—it was just me, her, and a big family made up almost entirely of women. I had a wonderful life, and now that she’s gone, I sometimes feel a little lost. But every time I watch one of your films, it’s like she’s right there with me again, sitting on the couch, sharing a bowl of popcorn, watching a movie we must have seen a thousand times. My favorite has always been The Life of David Gale. Hers was American Beauty.

Your films were a constant presence in my mother’s life. They probably made her toughest days a little easier and her happiest days even brighter. You may not know us, but you’ve meant a great deal to us. And I can only imagine how many other lives you’ve inspired in the same way.

Don’t lose heart. The world has changed, and the people who loved you never stopped. Even those who once doubted are beginning to see the truth and stand by you.

I wish you all the best, and I can’t wait to see your next film on the big screen.

With admiration,

Kevin

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