LOS ANGELES Richard Matheson the prolific sci fi and fantasy writer whose I Am Legend and The Shrinking Man were transformed into films has died. He was 87.
A spokesman for the Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films said Matheson died Sunday in Los Angeles. No other details were provided.
With a career spanning more than 60 years Matheson born in Allendale crafted stories that deftly transitioned from the page to both the big and small screens. Several of his works were adapted into films including 1953's Hell House 1956's The Shrinking Man 1958's A Stir of Echoes and 1978's What Dreams May Come.
Matheson's 1954 sci fi vampire novel I Am Legend inspired three different film adaptations 1964's The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price 1971's Omega Man starring Charlton Heston and 2007's I Am Legend starring Will Smith.
Matheson was also responsible for writing several episodes of The Twilight Zone as well as editions of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Rod Serling's Night Gallery The Martian Chronicles and Amazing Stories. His Twilight Zone installments included Nightmare at 20 000 Feet which featured William Shatner as an airplane passenger who spots a creature on a plane's wing as well as Steel which inspired the 2011 film Real Steel starring Hugh Jackman.
I loved Richard Matheson's writing and it was a huge honor getting to adapt his story 'Button Button' into a film posted Donnie Darko and The Box director Richard Kelly on Twitter on Monday.
Matheson influenced several generations of storytellers. Among them were Stephen King who dedicated his 2006 novel Cell to Matheson and Steven Spielberg whose first feature length film was the made for TV movie Duel based on the Matheson short story of the same name.
Richard Matheson's ironic and iconic imagination created seminal science fiction stories and gave me my first break when he wrote the short story and screenplay for 'Duel ' said Spielberg in a statement. His 'Twilight Zones' were among my favorites and he recently worked with us on 'Real Steel.' For me he is in the same category as (Ray) Bradbury and (Isaac) Asimov.
Matheson was scheduled to receive the visionary award at the Academy of Science Fiction Horror and Fantasy Films' Saturn Awards on Wednesday. The organization said the award will be presented posthumously and the 39th annual ceremony would be dedicated to Matheson.
We are heartbroken to lose a writer of towering talent unlimited imagination and unparalleled inspiration said Robert Holguin the academy's president. Richard was a genius whose visions helped bring legitimacy and critical acclaim to science fiction and fantasy. He was also a longtime supporter of the academy and everyone associated with the Saturn Awards feels emptier today to learn of this enormous loss.
Matheson is survived by his wife and four children.
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