Richard Matheson

Born on February 20, 1926, in Allendale, New Jersey, and raised in Brooklyn, Richard Matheson became one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century. He wrote novels, short stories, and screenplays, often bringing supernatural or science-fiction ideas into familiar, everyday life in a way that felt immediate and unsettling.

He is especially remembered for works such as I Am Legend, The Shrinking Man, and Hell House, along with many episodes and scripts for film and television, including notable work connected with The Twilight Zone. His writing reached across horror, fantasy, and science fiction, and many later writers and filmmakers have credited him as a major influence.

Matheson died on June 23, 2013. His work still feels fresh because it focuses so sharply on fear, isolation, and human vulnerability—big emotions told with remarkable clarity and control.