With a career that spanned westerns, science-fiction, fantasy, horror, suspense and even non-fiction, Richard Matheson has had the greatest influence on contemporary genre television, books, and film of any writer. Rest in peace, Mr. Matheson. You changed many of our lives with your ideas and style, your drive to create and entertain, your drive to investigate the worlds beyond this world.

From the UA Army to writing to support a family, he never looked back. A founding member of the unofficial California School, Mr. Matheson influenced everyone from Stephen King (who said he would not be a writer if it weren't for Mr. Matheson), to F. Paul Wilson.

For those unfamiliar, a starter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Matheson

http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/06/richard-matheson-passed-away

Video examples of his sparkling dialogue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tTUYYSV1-k KOLCHAK: The Night Strangler

And Trilogy of Terror http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1pnFLT_k5A

DUEL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYM7lvUGNi0

Rest in peace, Richard Matheson.