Richard Matheson (1926 - )

Date of Birth: 20 February 1926
Place of Birth: Allendale, New Jersey, USA
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Also Known As: Logan Swanson

No less a talent than Ray Bradbury once proclaimed Richard Matheson "one of the most important writers of the 20th century" - certainly he's been one of the most influential. Both Stephen King and Dean Koontz have sung his praises, citing him as being among their main influences.

Matheson started writing at the age of 8, and continued his love of letters with a course in journalism in New York before serving in World War II. It was in 1950 that his career as a creative writer began - his debut short story, Born of Man and Woman, signalling his abiding love for the macabre and the fantastic. He was a regular contributor throughout the decade to the popular pulps, including Weird Tales and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, as well as the writer of several novels.

Like many writers however, he found that there was little real money to be made in an overcrowded market and made the shrewd decision to move into film and television where he really began to make his mark. He pitched several scripts for various popular TV shows before Universal came looking to buy the film rights to his novel The Shrinking Man. The canny Matheson used it as a springboard for his new career, persuading Universal to let him pen his own adaptation and it became the first of his many big screen outings.

During the sixties, he became an in-demand scriptwriter, creating some of Roger Corman's best loved Edgar Allan Poe adaptations and even worked for Britain's Hammer Films and their rival Amicus. He was equally at home on the small screen, becoming a regular contributor to the original incarnation of The Twilight Zone - one of his 1963 contributions, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, remains one of the show's most memorable episodes.

In the 70s, Matheson turned his hand to the then popular "Movie of the Week" style made for TV films, and was responsible for some of the best and most fondly remembered examples of this oft-maligned form. Among his scripts were those for Steven Spielberg's Duel (1971), the much admired Trilogy of Terror (1975) and perhaps most importantly, the two pilot films - The Night Stalker (1972) and The Night Strangler (1973) - that would later become the Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) TV series.

His most famous novel, the classic end-of-the-world / vampire hybrid I Am Legend was published in 1954 and remains one of the finest and most influential books in the genre. It's tale of a world ravaged by a plague that has transformed most of Mankind into night dwelling monsters stalking the last man alive, Robert Neville, has been filmed three times and there has been much talk of a fourth big screen incarnation for many years. Along with the supremely creepy Hell House (1971 - filmed in 1973 by John Hough as The Legend of Hell House), it remains his best known and most accomplished literary work.

Richard Matheson is a writer whose work remains largely unknown by the public at large - which is ironic as he's probably the horror writer whose work they will be most familiar with, thanks to the large number of popular films and TV shows he's scripted over the years. His contributions to The Twilight Zone in particular are generally among those most discussed by both fans and casual viewers alike and helped to shape the most successful and influential genre anthology show ever.
KEVIN LYONS

* = television

1957
The Incredible Shrinking Man (script; novel (The Shrinking Man))
El hombre increíble - Venezuelan title
L'homme qui rétrécit - French title
El increíble hombre menguante - Spanish title
De krimpende man - Flemish Belgian title
Kutistuva mies - Finnish title
Manden, der blev mindre - Danish title
Mies joka kutistui - Finnish title
Niewiarygodnie kurczaca sie kobieta - Polish title
Radiazioni B X: distruzione uomo - Italian title
Die Unglaubliche Geschichte des Mr C - West German title

1959
The Twilight Zone: And When the Sky was Opened (11 December 1959) (story) *

1960
The House of Usher (script)
La caída de la casa Usher - Argentinian / Spanish title
La chute de la maison Usher - French title
Dom Usherów - Polish title
The Fall of the House of Usher - UK title
Gäst i skräckens hus - Swedish title
Kirous - Finnish title
Ondskabens slot - Danish title
Usherien talo - Finnish title
Usherin talon häviö – Finnish television title
Die Verfluchten - West German title
Vieraana kauhujen talossa - Finnish title
I vivi e i morti - Italian title

The Twilight Zone: The Last Flight (script) *

The Twilight Zone: A World Of Difference (script) *

The Twilight Zone: A World Of His Own (script) *

The Twilight Zone: Nick Of Time (script) *

The Twilight Zone: The Invaders (script) *

The Twilight Zone: Third from the Sun (8 January 1960) (short story) *

1961
Master of the World (script)
Albatrossin vangit - Finnish title
El amo del mundo - Spanish title
Herr der Welt - West German title
Le maître du monde - French title
Il padrone del mondo - Italian title
Robur - Herr der sieben Kontinente - West German title

Pit and the Pendulum (script)
Brønden og pendulet - Danish title
La chambre des tortures - French title
Dödspendeln - Swedish title
Kuilu ja heiluri - Finnish title
Das Pendel des Todes - West German title
El péndulo de la muerte - Spanish title
The Pit and the Pendulum
El pozo y el péndulo – Argentinian / Venezuelan title
Il pozzo e il pendolo - Italian title
Le puits et le pendule - French title

Thriller: The Return of Andrew Bentley (script) *

The Twilight Zone: Once Upon A Time (15 December 1961) (script) *

1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour: Ride the Nightmare (29 November 62) (script, story) *

Night of the Eagle (script)
Brûle, sorcière, brûle! - French title
Burn, Witch, Burn! – US title
Hypno - West German title
Noidan silmä - Finnish title
La notte delle streghe - Italian title

Tales of Terror (script)
Cuentos de terror – Argentinian / Venezuelan title
Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Terror – US title
L'empire de la terreur - French title
Der Grauenvolle Mr X - West German title
Historias de terror - Spanish title
Kauhutarinoita - Finnish title
Poe's Tales of Terror
I racconti del terrore - Italian title
Rædslernes trio - Danish title
Schwarze Geschichten - West German title
En studie i skräck - Swedish title

The Twilight Zone: Little Girl Lost (16 March 1962) (script) *

The Twilight Zone: Young Man's Fancy (11 May 1962) (script) *

1963
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Thirty First of February (4 January 63) (script (as Logan Swanson)) *

The Raven (script)
Le corbeau - French title
O Corvo - Portugese title
El cuervo - Argentinian / Venezuelan title
Korpen - Swedish title
Korpen i skräckens borg – Swedish television title
Korppi - Finnish title
Korppi joka kuoli nauruun - Finnish title
Kruk - Polish title
I maghi del terrore - Italian title
Der Rabe - Duell der Zauberer - West German title
Ravnen - Danish title

The Twilight Zone: Death Ship (script) *

The Twilight Zone: Mute (script) *

The Twilight Zone: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (script) *

The Twilight Zone: Steel (script) *

1964
The Comedy of Terrors (associate producer; script)
Il clan del terrore - Italian title
La comedia de los horrores - Spanish title
La comèdia dels horrors – Catalan Spanish title
The Graveside Story
Komödie des Grauens - West German title
Liget går amok - Danish title
O Miou Três Vezes - Portugese title
Operation i skräck - Swedish title
Ruhe Sanft GmbH - West German title

The Twilight Zone: Night Call (7 February 1964) (script) *

The Twilight Zone: Spur Of The Moment (21 February 1964) (script) *

L'ultimo uomo della Terra (novel (I Am Legend))
The Last Man on Earth – US title
Naked Terror
The Night Creatures
Night People
Vento di morte
Wind of Death

1965
Fanatic (script)
Die! Die! My Darling! – US title
Dödens lilla oskuld - Swedish title
Das Düstere Haus - West German title
Una notte per morire - Italian title

1966
The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.: The Atlantis Affair (15 November 1966) (script) *

Star Trek: The Enemy Within (script) *

1967
Soy leyenda (novel (I Am Legend))

1968
The Devil Rides Out (script)
Die Braut des Teufels - West German title
The Devil's Bride – US title
La novia del diablo - Spanish title
Les vierges de Satan - French title

Journey to the Unknown: Girl of My Dreams (story) *

Late Night Horror: No Such Thing as a Vampire (script) *

1969
It's Alive! (story (Being - uncredited))

1970
The House That Dripped Blood (story (Sweets to the Sweet))
La casa che grondava sangue - Italian title
Dom wampirów - Polish title
Huset som drepte – Norwegian video title
Huset som droppade blod - Swedish title
La mansión de los crímenes - Spanish title
Totentanz der Vampire - West German title

1971
Duel (script, short story) *
El diablo sobre ruedas - Spanish title
Duell - West German title
Duellen - Swedish title
Encurralado - Brazilian television title
Kauhun kilometrit - Finnish title
Párbaj - Hungarian title
Pojedynek na szosie - Polish title
Um Assassino pelas Costas - Portugese title

Night Gallery: The Diary / A Matter Of Semantics / Big Surprise (story (Big Surprise)) *

The Omega Man (novel (I Am Legend))
1975: occhi bianchi sul pianeta Terra - Italian title
Der Omega-Mann - West German title
Le survivant - French title
El último hombre... vivo - Spanish title
O Último Homem na Terra - Portugese title
Viimeinen mies - Finnish title

1972
Ghost Story: The New House (script) *

Night Gallery: The Funeral / The Tune In Dan's Café / Green Fingers (short story (The Funeral)) *

The Night Stalker (script) *
Una storia allucinante - Italian title

1973
Dracula (script) *
Bram Stoker's Dracula – US title
Kreivi Dracula - Finnish title

Dying Room Only (script, story) *
Loman loppu - Finnish title

The Legend of Hell House (script, novel (Hell House))
A Casa da Noite Eterna - Brazilian television title
Dopo la vita - Italian title
Legenden om djävulshuset - Swedish title
La leyenda de la casa infernal - Venezuelan title
La leyenda de la mansión del infierno - Spanish title
La maison des damnés - French title
Paholaisen talo - Finnish title
Tanz der Totenköpfe - West German title

The Night Strangler (script) *
Nocny tropieciel - Polish title
Lo strangolatore della notte - Italian title

1974
Scream of the Wolf (script) *
L'ululato del lupo - Italian title

Les seins de glace (novel (Someone is Bleeding))
Eiskalt wie das Schweigen - West German title
Esecutore oltre la legge - Italian title
Icy Breasts
Icy Flesh
Jäätävä syleily - Finnish title
Jäinen syli - Finnish title
Lodowate serca - Polish title
Los senos de hielo - Spanish title
Someone Is Bleeding – UK title

The Stranger Within (script, story)
Trespass
Tuntematon yhteys - Finnish title

1975
Trilogy of Terror (script, story (Prey))
Tales of Terror
Terror of the Doll

1977
Dead of Night (script)
Døden om natten – Norwegian video title
Mit der Nacht kommt der Tod – German title
Pimeän tarinoita - Finnish title

The Strange Possession of Mrs Oliver (associate producer, script)
O Estranho Caso da Senhora Oliver - Brazilian television title

1980
The Martian Chronicles (script) *
Crónicas marcianas - Venezuelan title
Die Marschroniken - West German title
Marsin aikakirjat - Finnish title

Somewhere in Time (novel (Bid Time Return), performer (astonished man in wings in 1912))
En algún lugar del tiempo - Spanish title
Gdzies w czasie - Polish title
Kerran jossakin - Finnish title
Ovunque nel tempo - Italian title
Quelque part dans le temps - French title
Ein Tödlicher Traum - West German title

1981
The Incredible Shrinking Woman (novel)
Apua, kutistun - Finnish title
Die Unglaubliche Geschichte der Mrs K - West German title

1983
Jaws 3-D (script)
Jaws 3
Jaws III
Der Weiße Hai III - Austrian / West German title
Les dents de la mer 3 - En relief - French title
El gran tiburón - Spanish title
Hajen 3 - Swedish title
Lo squalo 3 - Italian title
Lo squalo 3D - Italian title
Tappajahai 3 - Finnish title
Der Weiße Hai 3-D - West German title

Twilight Zone: The Movie (script, story)
Ai confini della realtà - Italian title
En los límites de la realidad - Spanish title
Hämärän pelottavat varjot - Finnish title
No Limite da Realidade - Brazilian television title
La quatrième dimension – French Canadian / French title
Twillight Zone - På gränsen till det okända - Swedish title
Unheimliche Schattenlichter - West German title

1986
Amazing Stories (creative consultant) *

Amazing Stories: The Doll (script) *

Amazing Stories: One For The Books (script) *

The Twilight Zone: Button, Button (7 March 1986) (script) *

1987
Amazing Stories: Miss Stardust (10 April 1987) (story) *

1990
The Dreamer of Oz (script) *
The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story

1994
Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics (script) *
Hämärän rajamailla - Finnish title
No Limiar da Realidade: Histórias Reencontradas - Portugese title
La quatrième dimension: L'ultime voyage - French title
Schrecken aus dem Jenseits – German title

1995
Outer Limits: First Anniversary (script) *

Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval (performer (himself)) *
American Masters: Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval

1996
100 Years of Horror: Giants and Dinosaurs (performer (himself))

100 Years of Horror: Sorcerers (performer (himself))

100 Years of Horror: The Aristocrats of Evil (performer (himself))

100 Years of Horror: The Evil Unseeable (performer (himself))

Trilogy of Terror II (script, story (Prey))
Trilogy of Terror – German video title
Triss i skräck - Swedish title

1998
What Dreams May Come (novel)
Al di là dei sogni - Italian title
Amor Além da Vida - Brazilian television title
Au-delà de nos rêves – French Canadian / French title
Csodás álmok jönnek - Hungarian title
Drömmarnas värld - Swedish title
Hinter dem Horizont - Das Ende ist nur der Anfang – German title
Hinter dem Horizont – Austrian title
O iubire fara sfârsit – Romanian title
Más allá de los sueños - Argentinian / Spanish title
Para Além do Horizonte - Portugese title

1999
Stir of Echoes (novel)
Echi mortali - Italian title
Echoes - Stimmen aus der Zwischenwelt - German title
Ecos do Além - Brazilian television title
Ecos mortales – Argentinian / Mexican / Venezuelan title
Espíritos Inquietos - Portugese title
Hypnose - French title
Les portes de l'esprit - French Canadian title
The Secret Sense – Swedish television title
El último escalón - Spanish title

1959
The Beat Generation (script)

Buckskin: Act of Faith (23 March 1959) (script) *

Markham: Spirit Unwilling (script) *

Wanted: Dead or Alive: The Healing Woman (12 September 1959) (script) *

1960
The Bourbon Street Beat: Target of Hate (7 March 1960) (script) *

The Cheyenne Show: Home of the Brave (28 November 1960) (script) *

Have Gun Will Travel: Lady on the Wall (20 February 1960) *

Lawman: Thirty Minutes (20 March 1960) (script) *

Lawman: Yawkey (23 October 1960) (script) *

Lawman: Samson the Great (20 November 1960) (script) *

Lawman: Cornered (11 December 1960) (script) *

Now is Tomorrow: Thy Will Be Done (script) *

1961
Lawman: Homecoming (5 February 1961) (script) *

1962
Combat!: Forgotten Front (script (as Logan Swanson)) *
Combate - Venezuelan title

Lawman: The Actor (27 May 1962) (script) *

1966
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre: Time of Flight (21 September 66) (script) *

1967
The Young Warriors (script; novel (The Beardless Warriors))
Angeli nell'inferno - Italian title
Eagle Warriors
Iskuryhmä hyökkää - Finnish title
Platoon leader - kovat sotilaat - Finnish title
Sturm auf Höhe 404 - West German title

1969
De Sade (script)
Das Ausschweifende Leben des Marquis de Sade
De Sade - den sexglade og sadistiske De Sade - Danish title
De Sade - Spanish title
O Insaciável Marquês de Sade – Brazilian title
Kärlekens hus - Swedish title
Die Liebesabenteuer des Marquis S

1970
De la part des copains (novel (Ride the Nightmare))
Cold Sweat – US title
Los compañeros del diablo - Spanish title
Iskalla nerver - Swedish title
Kalter Schweiß - Austrian / West German title
Kold sved - Danish title
Kylmä hiki - Finnish title
Kylmäverinen - Finnish video title
Revenge - Norwegian video title
L'uomo dalle due ombre - Italian title
De vrienden laten groeten - Flemish Belgian title

1974
The Morning After (script) *

1976
Captains and the Kings (performer (President Garfield)) *
Capitanes y los reyes - Venezuelan title
Der Preis der Macht - West German title

1990
Loose Cannons (script)
Canhões Perdidos - Portugese title
Echipa traznita – Romanian title
Der Harte und der Zarte – German title
Kelmien kauhut - Finnish title
Löst krut - Swedish title
Poliziotti a due zampe - Italian title
Superdeckarna - Swedish title
Un tiro por la culata - Spanish title

2002
De Sade: Richard Matheson Story Teller

NO DATE
Have Gun Will Travel: The Joust (script) *

Phillip Marlow: episode unknown (script) *

Richard Diamond, Private Detective: episode unknown (script) *

1973
Edgar Allan Poe Awards, USA
Best Television Feature or Miniseries – winner (for The Night Stalker (1972))

1984
Razzie Awards, USA
Worst Screenplay – nominated (for Jaws 3-D (1983), shared with Carl Gottlieb
Guerdon Trueblood)

LINKS

SEE ALSO
Richard Christian Matheson (son)

MAGAZINES

Fangoria no.89 (December 1989) pp.14-19 (USA)
interview (Richard Matheson and the House of Poe by Tom Weaver)

Fangoria no.90 (February 1990) pp.14-18 (USA)
interview (Quoth Matheson, Nevermore! by Tom Weaver)

Starlog no.150 (January 1990) pp.41-45 (USA)
interview (Master of Shrinking Men by Tom Weaver)

Starlog no.151 (February 1990) pp. 41-45 (USA)
interview (Master of the Last Men on Earth by Tom Weaver)

Starlog no.203 (June 1994) p.32 (USA)
interview (Twilight Testaments by Tom Weaver)

Starlog no.256 (November 1998) (USA)
interview (He Is Legend by Marc Shapiro)

BOOKS

Backstory 3: interviews with screenwriters of the 1960s edited by Patrick McGilligan (Berkeley, CA: University of California (1997) ISBN: 0520204271)
interview

Rational fears: American horror in the 1950s by Mark Jancovich (Manchester: Manchester University Press (1996) ISBN: 0719036240)
article

Return of the B Science Fiction and Horror Heroes by Tom Weaver (Jefferson NC: McFarland & Co (1999) ISBN : 0786407557)
interview

Richard Matheson: He is Legend edited by Mark Rathbun and Graeme Flanagan (1984)
biography

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008