Richard Matheson (born February 20, 1926) is an American author and screenwriter, typically of fantasy, horror or science fiction. Born in New Jersey, Matheson spent World War II as an infantry soldier. In 1949 he earned his bachelor's in journalism from the University of Missouri.

He wrote a number of episodes for the American TV series The Twilight Zone, and scripted Steven Spielberg's first film, Duel. Novels include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man), and a science fiction vampire novel, I Am Legend, which has been filmed twice, under the titles The Omega Man and The Last Man on Earth. (A proposed third film version, under the novel's original title and rumored to involve star Arnold Schwarzenegger and director Ridley Scott, hasn't managed to get off the ground.) Other Matheson novels turned into notable films include What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Bid Time Return (as Somehwere in Time), and Hell House (as The Legend of Hell House).

A character named "Senator Richard Matheson" appeared in several episodes of The X-Files. The series's creator, Chris Carter, was a fan of Matheson's work on two series that influenced The X-Files (The Twilight Zone and Kolchak: The Night Stalker).

Additional reading:

• California Sorcery, edited by William F. Nolan and William Schafer