Stephen King
In 1974, King's debut novel 'Carrie' was published after his wife rescued the discarded manuscript from the trash. Its 1976 film adaptation by Brian De Palma turned King into a household name and launched his reign as the 'King of Horror.'
Maine Roots
Born in Portland, Maine, King taught high school English while writing fiction at night. His debut novel 'Carrie' nearly ended up in the trash before becoming a bestseller in 1974.
King of Horror
Through the late 1970s and 1980s, King produced a string of classics including 'The Shining,' 'It' and 'Misery.' Hollywood adapted his work relentlessly, cementing his place in popular culture.
Beyond the Genre
King ranged well past horror into suspense, fantasy and drama, with works like 'Different Seasons' yielding acclaimed films. He has published roughly 200 short stories and dozens of novels across his career.
Career Timeline
- 1974Debut novel 'Carrie' is published
- 1976De Palma's 'Carrie' film becomes a hit
- 1977Publishes 'The Shining'
- 1980Kubrick's 'The Shining' reaches theaters
- 1982'Different Seasons' marks his first major genre departure
- 1983Publishes 'Pet Sematary'
- 1986Epic horror novel 'It' is published
- 1987Publishes 'Misery'
- 1990'Misery' film wins Kathy Bates an Oscar
- 2003Receives National Book Foundation medal
Biggest Hits
- King's wife Tabitha fished the crumpled 'Carrie' manuscript out of the wastebasket and urged him to finish it.
- His 1982 novella collection 'Different Seasons' inspired 'Stand by Me' and 'The Shawshank Redemption,' showing his range beyond horror.
Portrait: Pinguino Kolb · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons