A sad farewell to one of the most prolific and influential writers of whom most people have scarcely heard (which is a terrible thing to say in an obiturary, but it happens to be true and in saying it, I hope to help correct it).
Even if you’ve never heard of Richard Matheson, you’ve surely been touched by his work. If you like end-of-the-world scenarios and the evolution of the vampire mythos, you might enjoy his early novel, I Am Legend—which was adapted for film not once, not twice, but three times: as The Last Man on Earth in 1964; as The Omega Man in 1971; and as Will Smith’s 2007 I Am Legend.
Matheson was a much sought-after writer for both the large and small screen, often adapting his own novels and short stories into screen- and teleplays. The Incredible Shrinking Man, Somewhere In Time, Hell House, A Stir of Echoes, and What Dreams May Come are just some of the films created in whole or in part through the imagination of this remarkable author. He was just as consequential in television, where he wrote for (among others) Star Trek, Night Gallery, Combat!, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and 
notably, Twighlight Zone—for which he created Nightmare At 20,000 Feet, arguably one of the most memorable installments of that very memorable show.
Mr. Matheson was born in Bergen County, New Jersey and spent much of his younger days in Brooklyn, New York. He served as an infantry soldier in World War II, and pursued a career in journalism shortly after his discharge. His sci-fi and speculative short stories began receiving attention and acclaim in the 1950s, and from there he never looked back. For more than six decades, he was a writer who helped define the post-war American cultural consciousness, and for that he’ll always be honored and appreciated.
Richard Burton Matheson died in Los Angeles on Sunday at age 87, survived by his wife, four children and numerous grandchildren. He is legend, and like his creations, his legend lives on.
