Richard Burton Matheson (1926–2013) was an American author and screenwriter who made significant contributions to the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is widely celebrated for his ability to ground fantastical and terrifying premises in everyday, realistic settings, a style that influenced generations of subsequent writers and filmmakers.
His most famous novel, I Am Legend (1954), revolutionized the vampire genre and has been adapted into major feature films three times, including The Last Man on Earth (which Matheson co-wrote), The Omega Man, and I Am Legend. Other highly regarded novels by Matheson include The Shrinking Man, Hell House, What Dreams May Come, and Bid Time Return, almost all of which were adapted into successful motion pictures.
Beyond his novels, Matheson was a prolific screenwriter. He penned sixteen episodes of the classic television series The Twilight Zone, including iconic installments like "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" and "Steel." He also adapted several Edgar Allan Poe stories for director Roger Corman and wrote the screenplay for Steven Spielberg's acclaimed 1971 television film Duel, which was based on Matheson's own short story.
