History of Stephen King in Timeline
Stephen King, the "King of Horror", is a prolific American author renowned for his horror novels. He also writes in genres like suspense, crime, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. Beyond novels, King has penned around 200 short stories, many compiled into collections, contributing significantly to popular culture and solidifying his place as a major figure in contemporary literature.
1923: Time's founding date
Time made a list of the 100 greatest nonfiction books published since the magazine's founding in 1923.
July 23, 1939: Marriage of Stephen King's Parents
On July 23, 1939, Stephen King's parents, Donald Edwin King and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury, were married in Scarborough, Maine.
September 21, 1947: Stephen King's Birth
On September 21, 1947, Stephen Edwin King, the American author widely known for his horror novels, was born.
1958: Mention of 1958 Plymouth Fury in Christine
In the 1983 publication, Christine, there's mention of a 1958 Plymouth Fury, as the make and model of the haunted car.
1958: English teacher travels to 1958 to stop Lee Harvey Oswald in 11/22/63
The novel 11/22/63 imagines a time portal that allows an English teacher to travel back to 1958 with the intention of preventing Lee Harvey Oswald's actions.
1962: Entrance to Lisbon High School
In 1962, Stephen King entered Lisbon High School in Lisbon Falls, Maine.
1965: First Independently Published Story
In 1965, Stephen King's first independently published story, "I Was a Teenage Grave Robber," was serialized in Comics Review.
1966: Entrance to the University of Maine at Orono
In 1966, Stephen King entered the University of Maine at Orono on a scholarship.
1967: Sale of First Professional Short Story
In 1967, Stephen King sold his first professional short story, "The Glass Floor," to Startling Mystery Stories.
1968: Participation in Burton Hatlen's Writing Workshop
In 1968, Stephen King participated in a writing workshop organized by Burton Hatlen, where he began to explore his writing style.
June 1, 1970: Birth of Daughter Naomi
On June 1, 1970, Stephen King's daughter, Naomi, was born.
1970: Graduation from the University of Maine and Birth of Daughter
In 1970, Stephen King graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Arts in English, and his daughter Naomi Rachel was born.
January 2, 1971: King Marries Tabitha Spruce
On January 2, 1971, Stephen King married Tabitha Spruce, who is also a novelist and philanthropist, after meeting her at the University of Maine.
1971: Marriage to Tabitha Spruce
In 1971, Stephen King married Tabitha Spruce.
1971: Hired as an English Teacher
In 1971, Stephen King was hired as an English teacher at Hampden Academy in Hampden, Maine.
June 4, 1972: Birth of Son Joseph
On June 4, 1972, Stephen King's son, Joseph Hillström King, who writes as Joe Hill, was born.
1974: Blue Öyster Cult Astronomy Release
In 1974, Blue Öyster Cult first released the song Astronomy.
1974: Publication of Carrie
In 1974, Stephen King's debut novel, Carrie, was published, establishing him as a horror writer.
1975: Return to Auburn and Completion of The Stand
In 1975, Stephen King's family returned to Auburn, Maine, where he completed The Stand, an apocalyptic novel.
February 21, 1977: Birth of Son Owen
On February 21, 1977, Stephen King's son, Owen, was born.
1977: Travel to England
In 1977, Stephen King and his family, including their third child Owen Philip, traveled briefly to England.
1978: Publication of Night Shift
In 1978, Stephen King published Night Shift, a collection of short stories, many of which were early works.
1979: Publication of The Dead Zone
In 1979, Stephen King published The Dead Zone, which was the first of his novels to take place in Castle Rock, Maine.
1980: Film Adaptation of The Shining
In 1980, The Shining was adapted into a film.
1981: Publication of Danse Macabre
In 1981, Stephen King published Danse Macabre, a non-fiction work.
1982: Publication of Different Seasons
In 1982, Stephen King published Different Seasons, a collection of four novellas which deviated from his usual horror genre, receiving positive reviews.
1983: New Classics List
Entertainment Weekly ranked the "The New Classics: The 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008".
1983: King Establishes Zone Corporation
In 1983, Stephen King and his wife established the Zone Corporation, a radio station group, and acquired WACZ in Bangor, which was renamed WZON.
1983: Publication of Christine and Pet Sematary
In 1983, Stephen King published Christine, a novel about a haunted car, and Pet Sematary, a horror novel inspired by a family experience.
1983: Film Adaptations of The Dead Zone and Christine
In 1983, two of Stephen King's works, The Dead Zone and Christine, were adapted into films.
1985: Publication of Skeleton Crew
In 1985, Stephen King published Skeleton Crew, a book of short fiction including "The Reach" and The Mist.
1986: Film Adaptation of Stand by Me
In 1986, Stand by Me, based on the novella The Body from Different Seasons, was released as a film.
1987: Publication of The Eyes of the Dragon, Misery, and The Tommyknockers
1987 was a very productive year for Stephen King. He published The Eyes of the Dragon, a high fantasy novel, Misery, a thriller about a writer held captive by a fan, and The Tommyknockers, a science fiction novel.
1987: August Derleth Award for It
In 1987, Stephen King's novel It won the August Derleth Award.
1988: Blue Öyster Cult Song Intro
In 1988, Stephen King provided a narrative introduction for an updated version of Blue Öyster Cult's song "Astronomy".
1990: Publication of Four Past Midnight
In 1990, Stephen King published Four Past Midnight, a collection of four novellas with the common theme of time.
1990: King Writes About Little League Team
In 1990, Stephen King published an essay in The New Yorker about his son Owen's Little League team.
1991: Publication of Needful Things
In 1991, Stephen King published Needful Things, his first novel since achieving sobriety, billed as "The Last Castle Rock Story".
1992: Publication of Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne
In 1992, Stephen King published Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne, two novels about women loosely linked by a solar eclipse.
1994: Film Adaptation of Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption as The Shawshank Redemption
In 1994, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption from Different Seasons was adapted into the film The Shawshank Redemption.
1994: Rock Bottom Remainders Tour America
In 1994, Stephen King and his bandmates from The Rock Bottom Remainders coauthored "Midlife Confidential: The Rock Bottom Remainders Tour America With Three Chords and an Attitude".
1994: O. Henry Award for "The Man in the Black Suit"
In 1994, Stephen King won the O. Henry Award for his short story "The Man in the Black Suit".
1994: Publication of "The Man in the Black Suit"
In 1994, Stephen King's story "The Man in the Black Suit" was published in The New Yorker.
1994: Film Adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption
In 1994, The Shawshank Redemption, based on the novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption from Different Seasons, was released as a film.
1995: Film Adaptation of Dolores Claiborne
In 1995, Dolores Claiborne was adapted into a film.
1995: King on Celebrity Jeopardy!
In 1995, Stephen King was a contestant on "Celebrity Jeopardy!".
1995: Zone Corporation Adds Radio Stations
In 1995, Stephen King's Zone Corporation added two radio stations, WKIT-FM and WNSW in Brewer. WNSW was closed down shortly after.
1996: Publication of The Green Mile as a Serial Novel
In 1996, Stephen King published The Green Mile, the story of a death row inmate, as a serial novel in six parts.
1998: Film Adaptation of Apt Pupil
In 1998, Apt Pupil from Different Seasons was adapted into a film of the same name.
1998: Publication of Bag of Bones
In 1998, Stephen King published Bag of Bones, his first book with Scribner, about a recently widowed novelist.
1998: King on Celebrity Jeopardy!
In 1998, Stephen King was a contestant on "Celebrity Jeopardy!".
1998: Rock Bottom Remainders Release Album
In 1998, The Rock Bottom Remainders, a charity supergroup featuring Stephen King, released an album titled "Stranger Than Fiction" under Don't Quit Your Day Job Records.
June 19, 1999: King Struck by Van
On June 19, 1999, at about 4:30 pm, Stephen King was struck by a minivan while walking on the shoulder of Maine State Route 5 in Lovell, Maine.
1999: Publication of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and Hearts in Atlantis
In 1999, Stephen King published The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, about a girl lost in the woods, and Hearts in Atlantis, a collection of linked novellas.
1999: Film Adaptation of The Green Mile
In 1999, The Green Mile was adapted into a film.
1999: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
In 1999, baseball features in Stephen King's novella, "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon".
2000: Publication of On Writing and Riding the Bullet e-book
In 2000, Stephen King published On Writing, a memoir and style manual, and Riding the Bullet, the world's first mass e-book.
2000: Publication of On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
In 2000, Stephen King published On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, a non-fiction work.
2001: Zone Corporation Acquires WDME-FM
In 2001, Stephen King's Zone Corporation acquired WDME-FM in Dover-Foxcroft, later renamed WZLO.
2002: King Organizes Wavedancer Benefit
In 2002, Stephen King, Peter Straub, John Grisham, and Pat Conroy organized the Wavedancer Benefit, a public reading to raise funds for Frank Muller, an actor and audiobook reader who was injured in a motorcycle accident.
2003: Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
In 2003, Stephen King received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
2004: King Co-Authors Faithful
In 2004, Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan coauthored "Faithful", chronicling their correspondence about the Boston Red Sox's historic season culminating in their World Series win.
2005: Sons Publish First Collection of Stories
In 2005, Stephen King's son Owen King published his first collection of stories, "We're All in This Together: A Novella and Stories", and his son Joseph Hillström King (Joe Hill) published his first collection of short stories, "20th Century Ghosts".
2007: Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America
In 2007, Stephen King received the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America.
2007: Film Adaptation of The Mist
In 2007, The Mist was adapted into a film.
2008: King Endorses Obama
In 2008, Stephen King endorsed Barack Obama for the presidential election, marking his support for the candidate.
2008: "On Writing" Ranked Among New Classics
In 2008, Stephen King's "On Writing" was ranked 21st on Entertainment Weekly's list of "The New Classics: The 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008".
2010: Blockade Billy
In 2010, baseball features in Stephen King's novella, "Blockade Billy".
March 8, 2011: King Speaks at Political Rally
On March 8, 2011, Stephen King spoke at a political rally in Sarasota, Florida, opposing Governor Rick Scott and the Tea Party movement.
November 2011: STK Foundation Donates to Heating Bills
In November 2011, the STK Foundation donated $70,000 in matched funding via Stephen King's radio station to help families in need in Bangor, Maine, pay their heating bills during the winter.
2011: 11/22/63 named one of the five best fiction books of the year
In 2011, 11/22/63 was recognized as one of the five best fiction books of the year by The New York Times, which praised King's blend of the ordinary and supernatural elements.
2011: Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller for 11/22/63
In 2011, Stephen King won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller for his novel 11/22/63.
April 30, 2012: King Calls for Higher Taxes
On April 30, 2012, Stephen King published an article in The Daily Beast advocating for wealthy Americans, including himself, to pay more taxes, emphasizing it as a moral obligation.
2012: King Narrates Shooter Jennings' Album
In 2012, Stephen King provided the narration for Shooter Jennings's album "Black Ribbons".
January 25, 2013: King Publishes Essay on Gun Control
On January 25, 2013, Stephen King released an essay titled "Guns via Amazon.com's Kindle single feature," addressing the gun debate following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and advocating for a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons.
2013: Hard Listening E-book
In 2013, Stephen King and his bandmates coauthored the e-book "Hard Listening: The Greatest Rock Band Ever (of Authors) Tells All".
2014: King Endorses Shenna Bellows
In 2014, Stephen King endorsed Shenna Bellows in the U.S. Senate election for the seat held by Republican Susan Collins.
2014: National Medal of Arts
In 2014, Stephen King received the National Medal of Arts for his contributions to literature.
June 30, 2015: King Calls LePage Embarrassment
On June 30, 2015, Stephen King tweeted that Governor Paul LePage was "a terrible embarrassment to the state I live in and love", clarifying that he wanted LePage to start governing or go back home.
2015: King Criticizes Paul LePage
In 2015, Stephen King publicly criticized Maine Governor Paul LePage for incorrectly suggesting that King avoided paying Maine income taxes. King demanded an apology, which LePage declined to give.
August 27, 2016: King Calls LePage a Bigot
On August 27, 2016, Stephen King called Governor Paul LePage "a bigot, a homophobe, and a racist" in a public statement.
2016: King Condemns Trump's Candidacy
In 2016, Stephen King joined other writers in signing a letter condemning Donald Trump's candidacy for president, citing concerns over the abuse of language and the appeal to violent elements.
June 2018: King Calls for Release of Oleg Sentsov
In June 2018, Stephen King publicly called for the release of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who was imprisoned in Russia.
2018: Attention garnered for LePage Criticism
In 2018, the attention garnered by the LePage criticism led to efforts to encourage King to run for Governor of Maine. King said he would not run or serve.
2019: King Plans Writers' Retreat
As of 2019, Stephen King and his wife plan to convert their home in Bangor into a facility housing his archives and a writers' retreat.
2020: King Endorses Warren and Biden
In 2020, Stephen King initially endorsed Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign during the Democratic Party primaries. After Warren suspended her campaign, King endorsed Joe Biden's campaign for the general election.
February 2021: King's Foundation Helps Children Publish Novels
In February 2021, Stephen King's Foundation donated $6,500 to help children from Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston, Maine, publish two novels they had been working on.
July 2022: King Pranked by Russian Impersonators
In July 2022, Stephen King participated in a video call with Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, who impersonated Volodymyr Zelenskyy. After the call, King realized he was pranked and apologized on Twitter.
August 2022: King Testifies Against Publishing Merger
In August 2022, Stephen King testified in a case brought by the U.S. Justice Department to block the merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. His testimony was credited with influencing the judge's decision to block the merger.
2022: King Lists Favorite Books
In 2022, Stephen King provided another list of ten favorite books, including Lord of the Flies, Nineteen Eighty-Four and Blood Meridian.
2022: King Supports Ukraine
In 2022, Stephen King voiced his support for Ukraine during the Russian invasion. He posted a photo on his Twitter account wearing an "I stand with Ukraine" T-shirt and announced that he would not cooperate with Russian publishers.
December 2024: King Announces Radio Station Closures
In December 2024, Stephen King announced that his radio stations would shut down at the end of the year, citing his age and financial losses as reasons.
2025: King Criticizes Epstein Client List Believers
In July 2025, after the United States House Committee on Rules voted against revealing the Jeffrey Epstein client list, Stephen King criticized people on X (Twitter) who believe in the list's existence, comparing it to the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus, which resulted in backlash.
Mentioned in this timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe second only...
Elizabeth Warren is a prominent American politician and the senior...
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr is an American politician who served...
Michael Joseph Jackson the King of Pop was a highly...
Barack Obama the th U S President - was the...
Trending
41 minutes ago Epstein Case: Wyden persists, GOP blocks file release, Republicans eager to leave.
41 minutes ago Rickie Fowler Competes at The Open 2025 After Controversial Exemption; Encouraging Start
41 minutes ago Simona Waltert Advances to WTA Quarterfinal at Iasi Open, Saving Key Set Points.
41 minutes ago Jennifer Lawrence champions the sneakerina: A barely-there sneaker trend hitting the streets.
2 hours ago Suki Waterhouse Hospitalized After Tight Pants Cause Hernia: A Fashion Mishap
2 hours ago Gas leak in Norman causes evacuations and road closures on Berry Street.
Popular
Pam Bondi is an American attorney lobbyist and politician A...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
KPop Demon Hunters is a animated musical fantasy action comedy...
Thomas Douglas Homan is an American law enforcement officer and...
William Franklin Graham III commonly known as Franklin Graham is...
Candace Owens is an American conservative and far-right political commentator...