Richard Matheson (1926-2013)

Influential science fiction writer Richard Matheson who inspired many a writer/director also thrilled my own childhood for many years through my addiction of choice - the television.

I was thrilled by his work even when I had no idea of the man behind many of the genre offerings I loved.  His writing work is vast, and in many forms, but most importantly his output was thoughtful and exceptional. It will remain so.







His work will live on.  To this day, young and old, each holiday season, on those cold winter nights, families gather for the The Twilight Zone marathon that runs endlessly on Sy Fy.  Matheson penned sixteen of those amazing, simple, yet frightening tales. Many of his own were classics.  With minimal special effects and pure imagination his work and The Twilight Zone offered genre fans some of the very best in science fiction television.  Despite advances in technology, masterful writing and great ideas win the day and withstand the test of time. 





Richard Matheson (1926-2013) was 87.  I Am Legend indeed.

These are images from the television and film work associated with Richard Matheson as a writer or as a source for adaptation.  Of course, he also penned the script for an adaptation of Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles (1980) which starred such genre names as Roddy McDowall (Planet Of The Apes), Darren McGavin (Kolchak: The Night Stalker), Nicholas Hammond (The Amazing Spider-Man), Laurie Holden (The Walking Dead, The Mist, The X-Files) and Barry Morse (Space:1999).  Here are images from the rest.  

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964), Season One, Episode 11, And When The Sky Was Opened.





The Twilight Zone, Season One, Episode 14, Third From The Sun.



The Twilight Zone, Season One, Episode 18, The Last Flight.



The Twilight Zone, Season One, Episode 23, A World Of Difference.



The Twilight Zone, Season One, Episode 36, A World Of His Own.



The Twilight Zone, Season Two, Episode 7, Nick Of Time (starring William Shatner).



The Twilight Zone, Season Two, Episode 15, The Invaders.



The Twilight Zone, Season Three, Episode 13, Once Upon A Time.





The Twilight Zone, Season Three, Episode 26, Little Girl Lost.



The Twilight Zone, Season Three, Episode 34, Young Man's Fancy.



The Twilight Zone, Season Four, Episode 5, Mute.



The Twilight Zone, Season Four, Episode 6, Death Ship.



The Twilight Zone, Season Five, Episode 2, Steel.



The Twilight Zone, Season Five, Episode 3, Nightmare At 20,000 Feet (William Shatner).





The Twilight Zone, Season Five, Episode 19, Night Call.



The Twilight Zone, Season Five, Episode 21, Spur Of The Moment.



Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969), Season One, Episode 5, The Enemy Within.





The Omega Man (1971) (starring Charlton Heston and based on the book I Am Legend).







The Night Stalker (1972)



What Dreams May Come (1998).



Stir Of Echoes (1999).