Author Richard Matheson, 'I Am Legend' Writer, Dies At 87

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NPR

by Bill Chappell

Author Richard Matheson, whose injection of humanity into science-fiction tales engaged audience for more than five decades, has died. Matheson's work included The Shrinking Man, I Am Legend, and numerous other movie and TV scripts, including episodes of The Twilight Zone.

Matheson was 87. His death Sunday was announced online after his daughter, Ali, wrote of his passing. The genre website quotes her, citing author John Shirley, who posted her statement on Facebook:

"My beloved father passed away yesterday at home surrounded by the people and things he loved...he was funny, brilliant, loving, generous, kind, creative, and the most wonderful father ever...I miss you and love you forever Pop and I know you are now happy and healthy in a beautiful place full of love and joy you always knew was there..."

Many of Matheson's stories placed otherwise normal people in extreme or fantastic circumstances — a hallmark of The Twilight Zone, for which he wrote more than a dozen episodes. He also wrote a short story about a trucker tailgating a driver, which he then used to create a screenplay for the 1971 Steven Spielberg film Duel, starring Dennis Weaver.

FULL story and videos at link.


Read more: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/24/195317782/author-richard-matheson-i-am-legend-writer-dies-at-87

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http://vimeo.com/30123068

[IveWornAHundredPants]

1. An excellent imagination

and a fine writer.

[navarth]

2. Thanks for posting, sorry to hear this. Great writer

I Am Legend was a really good book. The movie was a travesty and I hope people don't judge the book by that.

RIP Mr. Matheson. Thanks for the many hours of pleasure your work brought me.

[RoccoR5955]

3. Another great author

ventures into The Twilight Zone.

[PSPS]

4. A legendary and talented writer.

He was working until just recently. Many of us are familiar with his writing through television. Here's just a part of his TV writing credits:

"Family Guy" (1 episode)
"Amazing Stories" (5 episodes )
"Circle of Fear" (22 episodes ) ... aka "Ghost Story" - USA (original title)
"Rod Serling's Night Gallery" (2 episodes )
"The Girl from U.N.C.L.E." (1 episode)
"Star Trek" (1 episode)
"Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" (1 episode)
"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" (2 episodes )
"Combat!" (1 episode)
"Thriller" (1 episode)
"Lawman" (6 episodes )
"Cheyenne" (1 episode)
"Bourbon Street Beat" (1 episode)
"Have Gun - Will Travel" (1 episode)
"Twilight Zone" (16 episodes )
"Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1 episode)
"Studio 57" (1 episode)

The TV movie Spielberg made of Matheson's "Duel" was Spielberg's first time directing a commercial movie.