Ray Bradbury

  • Born

    Ray Douglas Bradbury born August 22, 1920, in Waukegan, Illinois, the third child of Esther Moberg Bradbury and Leonard Bradbury. Twin boys were born four years earlier, but one, Samuel, died at age two. Leonard Jr. (known as “Skip”) survived.
  • Taught how to read

    Given 1st book of fairy tales, Once Upon a Time, by his aunt Neva Brad- bury for Christmas. Parents help him learn to read from the newspaper comics.
  • Little sister Elizabeth dies

    Ray’s baby sister, Elizabeth, dies of pneumonia in February. Sick in bed with whooping cough.
  • Skipped collage

    After high school in 1939 Ray Bradbury didn't go to college, because he did not have enough money to afford it.
  • Period: to

    Starting to then publishing

    In 1943 he began his career as a writer, and in 1947 he published his first collection of short stories, Dark Carnival.
  • Meets wife

    Meets future wife Marguerite “Maggie” McClure at Fowler’s Book Shop, where she clerks.
  • Period: to

    Children

    Ray Bradbury had four children. He was married to Marguerite McClure from 1947 until her death in 2003, and the couple had four children: Susan, Ramona, Bettina, and Alexandra.
  • Academy Award

    Receives Academy Award nomination for the 1962 animated short film, Icarus Montgolfier Wright, adapted from his story; George Clayton John- son and illustrator Joseph Mugnaini share the nomination
  • Death

    Ray Bradbury died on June 5th 2012.