Everyone has encountered his work: The Twilight Zone’s “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” with William Shatner; the Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour cult classic movie Somewhere in Time, based on his novel Bid Time Return; more recently the movie I Am Legend, based on his novel of the same name; and the Cameron Diaz movie The Box, based on his short story, “Button, Button,” which was also adapted as a 1980’s Twilight Zone episode.
And for those who never watch SF or fantasy, you encountered his work in the groundbreaking ABC-TV Movie of the Week directed by a young Steven Spielberg. It starred Dennis Weaver and was called Duel.
His influence was broad and incalculable. He left behind immortal work. Rest in peace.
Additional:
Wikipedia: Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson—Storyteller
The Men Behind the Zone #3: Richard Matheson