Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson (1926-2013) was an American author and screenwriter best known for his science fiction horror novel I Am Legend (1954), adapted into films multiple times, including The Omega Man and the 2007 version starring Will Smith. He wrote 16 episodes of The Twilight Zone, including the iconic \"Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,\" and screenplays for Edgar Allan Poe adaptations like House of Usher and Steven Spielberg's Duel. His career spanned fantasy, horror, and science fiction, earning him lifetime achievement awards from the World Fantasy, Bram Stoker, and Science Fiction Hall of Fame.