Author. Born Ray Douglas Bradbury in Waukegan, Illinois, the son of Esther Moberg and Leonard Bradbury. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1934 where he graduated from Los Angeles High School. He always said that, instead of college, he attended the library where he furthered his education. His writing career began with his contributions to the fanzine "Imagination!" In 1938 with the publication of "Hollerbochen's Dilemma." He launched his own short lived fanzine, "Futuria Fantasia," the following year. Due to his poor eyesight, he was rated 4F and did not see military service during the Second World War, but altered his status from fan to professional writer with the publication of "Pendulum," written with Henry Hasse, in "Super Science Stories" in November 1941. His first book, a anthology, "Dark Carnival," was published in 1947. That same year, he married Marguerite McClure with whom he had four daughters. More than 500 titles, including novels, plays, children's books, and short stories followed, including the much lauded "Martian Chronicles" in 1950, "Fahrenheit 451" in 1953, "Something Wicked This Way Comes" in 1962, and "I Sing the Body Electric" in 1969. Many of his works were adapted for film and stage, not all of which he approved, finding the 1980 television adaptation of "The Martian Chronicles" to be "just boring." In 1984, a series of 13 audio adaptations his stories, in conjunction with National Public Radio, was produced, with Bradbury reading opening voice-over. The series won a Peabody Award and two Gold Cindy awards. It was released on CD in 2010. From 1985 to 1992, he hosted an anthology television series, "The Ray Bradbury Theater," for which he adapted 65 of his stories. Among his numerous awards, he was presented a Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Award for 2000 from the National Book Foundation, as well as the National Medal of Arts, the World Fantasy Award Life Achievement, the Stoker Award Life Achievement, SFWA Grand Master, SF Hall of Fame, and an Emmy Award. Additionally, an asteroid discovered in 1992 was named "9766 Bradbury" in his honor. He remained productive through his last years, passing at age 91.