Richard Matheson, whose creativity influenced all of us with his incredible works, has passed away at the age of 87.

Born in Allenedale, New Jersey on February 20th, 1926 to Norwegian parents, Richard was raised in Brooklyn where he attended Brooklyn Technical College before being drafted serving as an infantryman during World War II.

After his wartime service he attended the University of Missouri where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1949 subsequently moving to California in 1951. 

He became a member of the Southern California School of writers that included Ray Bradbury, William F. Nolan, George Clayton Johnson, Charles Beaumont and many others.

Mr. Matheson’s first short story was entitled ‘Born of Man and Woman’ in the Magazine of Science Fiction in 1950, later writing stories for Galaxy.

Aside of his literary classic such as I Am Legend (filmed as The Last Man On Earth, The Omega Man and the Will Smith vehicle of the same title), The Beardless Warriors (a World War II story based on personal experiences), Bid Time Return (which was filmed as Somewhere In Time), What Dreams May Come, Trilogy of Terror (based on three of his short stories) and Hell House (filmed as The Legend of Hell House).

Selected film credits include, Burn Witch Burn, the Roger Corman films The House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum and The Raven, The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Devil Rides Out, The Comedy of Terrors, Tales of Terror and Master of the World.

His list of television credits feature classic episodes from The Twilight Zone that include Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, Steel and Death Ship as well as Rod Serling’s Night Gallery, Combat!, Wanted Dead or Alive starring Steve McQueen, The Night Stalker, The Night Strangler, Dracula starring Jack Palance, Star Trek and many more.

Other works came under his pseudonym: Logan Swanson.

He was an incredible writer that opened all of our minds to the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, horror and reality.

We think a fitting epitaph for him would be the last line of one of his greatest books…

I Am Legend

Thank you,  Mr. Matheson.

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