Acclaimed author and writer, Richard Matheson, passed away June 23rd at the age of 87 according reports from various online news outlets.

Mr.Mathesons prolific carreer included many well known, loved, and respected short stories, novels, and screenplays. His stories were featured in both television and film including, “The Twilight Zone” (1959-1964), “Rod Serling’s Night Gallery” (1972), as well as the television reboot of “The Twilight Zone” (1985-1989), “Cheyenne“, “Have Gun Will Travel” (both in 1960),  “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour” (1962-1965)  “Star Trek” (1966-1968),  and many other amazing stories too numerous to mention.

Films based on writing by Matheson include, The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), House of Usher (1960), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), Tales of Terror (1962), The Last Man on Earth (as “Logan Swanson”, based on Matheson’s novel I Am Legend)(1964), The Legend of Hell House, (based on his novel) (1973), Somewhere in Time (1980), I Am Legend (2007), Reel Steel (2011), and many others.

*Photo © Ron Galella LTD, IMDB & Getty Images