The science fiction horror novel I Am Legend, published in 1954, established Richard Matheson as a significant figure in speculative fiction. His career spanned six decades, during which he influenced the landscape of horror and fantasy through a prolific output of novels, short stories, and television screenplays that bridged the gap between pulp literature and mainstream cinema.
Early Development and War Service
Born in Allendale, New Jersey, in 1926, Richard Matheson moved to Brooklyn where he was raised by his mother. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, graduating in 1943. During World War II, he served in the United States Army in Europe, an experience that later informed his 1960 novel The Beardless Warriors. Following his discharge, he utilized the G.I. Bill to attend the University of Missouri, where he earned an undergraduate degree from the Missouri School of Journalism in 1949.
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Matheson gained early professional attention with the 1950 publication of his short story Born of Man and Woman in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. During the 1950s and 1960s, he became an integral member of the Southern California Sorcerers, an informal group of writers including Ray Bradbury and Charles Beaumont. This collective focused on bringing speculative storytelling into the broader reach of television and film. His first published novel, Someone Is Bleeding, appeared in 1953, followed by The Shrinking Man in 1956.
Television and Cinematic Adaptations
Matheson was a major contributor to television, most notably writing sixteen episodes for The Twilight Zone, including Nightmare at 20,000 Feet and Steel. He also adapted five Edgar Allan Poe stories for director Roger Corman, including House of Usher and The Pit and the Pendulum. His short story Duel was adapted into a 1971 television film directed by Steven Spielberg. Numerous other works, such as I Am Legend, Hell House, and What Dreams May Come, were adapted into feature films.
Later Career and Recognition
Throughout his career, Matheson received extensive industry recognition. He was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 1958 and the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1976. In 1993, he received the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award, followed by the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1990. He was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2010. Matheson died in Los Angeles in 2013.
Fast facts
- Born: 1926, Allendale
- Died: 2013, Los Angeles
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: Brooklyn Technical High School, University of Missouri
- Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation: 1958
- World Fantasy Award for Best Novel: 1976
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame: 2010
- Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement: 1990
Questions readers ask
Which famous television series featured scripts by Richard Matheson?
Matheson wrote over a dozen episodes for The Twilight Zone, including Nightmare at 20,000 Feet and Little Girl Lost.
What is Richard Matheson's most adapted novel?
I Am Legend, his 1954 science fiction horror novel, has been adapted into three major films: The Last Man on Earth, The Omega Man, and I Am Legend.
Achievements
- Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation — 1958
- Genres: fantasy
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