Richard Burton Matheson (February 20, 1926 – June 23, 2013) was an American author and screenwriter, known for his significant contributions to the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres.

Matheson was born in Allendale, New Jersey, to Norwegian immigrant parents and was raised in Brooklyn. After graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1943, he served as an infantry soldier in World War II. He earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in 1949. In the early 1950s, he moved to California, embarking on a career that would meld his talents in writing for both print and screen.

His storytelling prowess, particularly evident in I Am Legend, a 1954 science fiction horror novel, has left a lasting impact. This work alone has been adapted for the screen three times, with Matheson co-writing the first film version, The Last Man on Earth, in 1964. His talents also extended to television, where he wrote 16 episodes for The Twilight Zone, including famous stories such as Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, Little Girl Lost, and Steel.

Matheson's influence in Hollywood didn't stop there. His works, including The Shrinking Man, Hell House, and What Dreams May Come, have been transformed into motion pictures, showcasing his ability to craft stories that transcend the written word. Notably, his short story Duel was adapted into a screenplay directed by Steven Spielberg, marking an early success for the famed director.

In his personal life, Matheson married in 1952 and had four children, three of whom followed in his footsteps as writers of fiction and screenplays.