Breaking news that Richard Matheson has, sadly, passed away at the age of 87… His daughter Ali has written “My beloved father passed away yesterday at home surrounded by the people and things he loved...he was funny, brilliant, loving, generous, kind, creative, and the most wonderful father ever...I miss you and love you forever Pop and I know you are now happy and healthy in a beautiful place full of love and joy you always knew was there...”
Matheson was the only twentieth century author whose seminal novel is so important to the vampire genre it received a permanent link on the blog front page menu as a piece of Classic Literature. That novel was, of course, I am Legend, which has spawned several film adaptations (the Last Man on Earth being the best and, ironically, one that he distanced himself from, changing his name in the credits to Logan Swanson) and also was a main inspiration to George Romero and thus helped shape the zombie genre also.
Matheson also worked on several vampire films including, but not limited to The Night Stalker, Dracula and Dead of Night. A genre icon, his presence will be sorely missed.