Jerome Bixby

Born Drexel Jerome Lewis Bixby on January 11, 1923, he became an American short-story writer, editor, and scriptwriter. His fiction ranged across science fiction, fantasy, horror, westerns, and men’s magazines, making him one of the most versatile genre writers of his era.

Bixby’s best-known story, “It’s a Good Life,” first appeared in 1953 and was later adapted for The Twilight Zone and Twilight Zone: The Movie. He also wrote episodes of the original Star Trek and contributed to the story for Fantastic Voyage.

His final screenplay, The Man from Earth, was completed in April 1998, shortly before his death in San Bernardino, California. The screenplay was later made into an independent film in 2007, helping introduce his thoughtful, idea-driven storytelling to a new generation.