Robert Bloch

Born in Chicago on April 5, 1917, Robert Bloch grew into one of the most recognizable voices in American horror and suspense. Early in his career he was encouraged by H. P. Lovecraft, and he began publishing stories in pulp magazines before building a long career that ranged across horror, crime, fantasy, and science fiction.

Bloch is most closely associated with his 1959 novel Psycho, which became the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film and permanently linked his name with psychological horror. But his career was much broader than that single book: he wrote hundreds of short stories, novels, radio scripts, and screenplays, with a style that often blended fear, wit, and a very human sense of weakness.

He continued writing for decades and remained an important figure in popular genre fiction until his death in Los Angeles on September 23, 1994. For listeners who enjoy eerie atmosphere, clever twists, and classic suspense, his work still feels lively and unsettling.