Harry Dean Stanton had a profound impact on the people around him. Friends like Ed Begley Jr., Jamie James, and Dennis Quaid said he changed their lives in major ways. Although he suffered betrayals in life, he also experienced true love and loyalty in those who knew him best. He never won an Oscar, but he was celebrated and feted in his last years. Two documentaries were devoted to his life and work. A star-studded event at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles paid tribute to him. He inspired songs by Debbie Harry and others, and he recorded a CD of some of his best songs. Most importantly, fellow Kentuckian Lucy Jones created an annual film festival in his honor in his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. Each year actors, directors, and musicians come to sing his praises, and in 2014 he came himself, accompanied by longtime friend Michelle Phillips. He didn't believe in an afterlife yet he left a legacy in his work and in the heartfelt affection of those who knew him that in itself is an afterlife, one that would have made him proud.