Scott Adams, Creator of Dilbert, Passes Away at 68

Cartoonist and Satirist Remembered

Scott Adams, the renowned American cartoonist behind the iconic comic strip Dilbert, has passed away at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer. His ex-wife, Shelly Miles, confirmed the news during a live episode of his podcast, Real Coffee with Scott Adams.

Dilbert, known for its satirical portrayal of office life and corporate dysfunction, first appeared in 1989. The comic strip quickly gained global recognition, featuring in over 2,000 newspapers across 65 countries. Beyond newspapers, the character of Dilbert became the focus of books, an animated television series, and even a video game.

Controversies in Later Years

In 2023, Adams faced significant backlash when he made racially charged comments about Black Americans, labeling them a “hate group” and advising white Americans to “get the hell away from black people.” These statements led several newspapers, including the Washington Post, to discontinue publishing his comic strip. Adams defended his remarks, stating he was using hyperbole and disavowed racist beliefs, while also claiming that media reports had taken his words out of context.

Tributes and Reflections

Following the news of Adams’s death, former U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute on Truth Social, describing him as a “fantastic guy” who “bravely fought a long battle against a terrible disease.”

Shelly Miles shared an emotional message at the start of Adams’s final podcast: “He’s not with us anymore.” She also read a posthumous message from Adams himself:

“I had an amazing life, I gave it everything I had. If I got any benefits from my work, I’m asking that you pay it forward as best as you can. That’s the legacy I want. Be useful, and please know I loved you all to the very end.”

Career Beyond Comics

In addition to his work as a cartoonist, Adams was a trained hypnotist and authored several self-help books, including How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, Win Bigly, Loserthink, and Reframe Your Brain. His contributions to the field of comics earned him the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award in 1997, as well as the Newspaper Comic Strip Award.

Final Months and Health Struggles

Adams had been receiving end-of-life care at home after his prostate cancer, first diagnosed in May 2025, metastasized to his bones. In January 2026, he candidly shared with his podcast audience that recovery was unlikely, describing ongoing heart failure and mobility challenges.

“I’ll give you any updates if that changes, but it won’t,” he said. “So there’s no chance that I’ll get my feeling back in my legs, and I’ve got some ongoing heart failure, which is making it difficult to breathe sometimes during the day. However, you should prepare yourself that January will probably be a month of transition, one way or another.”

Scott Adams leaves behind a legacy of humor, satire, and thought-provoking work, remembered by millions around the world.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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