‘I Am Legend’ writer Richard Matheson dies at 87

LOS ANGELES, June 25:  Sci-fi author Richard Matheson, who penned movies ‘I Am Legend’ and ‘The Shrinking Man’, has died. He was 87.
Legendary author Matheson, whose stories such as ‘I Am Legend’ and ‘The Shrinking Man’ have been turned into movies, passed away on Sunday, June 23 in Los Angeles.
Matheson’s daughter, Ali, said that the science-fiction and horror author was “surrounded by the people and things he loved” at the time of his passing, reported Aceshowbiz.
Matheson was born in Allendale, New Jersey, in 1926. He started publishing his stories in 1950s. In his 60 years of career, Matheson’s stories have been adapted into several movies.
‘I Am Legend’, which was published in 1954, was turned into film at least three times, in 1964 as ‘The Last Man on Earth’, ‘The Omega Man’ in 1971 and ‘I Am Legend’ in 2007, starring Will Smith.
His 1953 story ‘Hell House’ was adapted into a movie entitled ‘The Legend of Hell House’ in 1973. Matheson 1956’s novel ‘The Shrinking Man’ was adapted into motion picture twice as ‘The Incredible Shrinking Man’ in 1957 and ‘The Incredible Shrinking Woman’ in 1981.
‘A Stir of Echoes’ and ‘What Dreams May Come’ were turned into movies as well. (PTI)