Scott Adams, the creator of the long-running comic strip Dilbert, has died at the age of 68 after being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. His death was announced Tuesday morning by his former wife, Shelly Miles, during a livestream on X, where she read a statement Adams had prepared on January 1.
“I had an amazing life,” the statement read in part. “I gave it everything I had.”
Adams had spoken publicly in recent months about the severity of his illness. In May, he revealed that he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones, the same condition earlier disclosed by former U.S. President Joe Biden.
“I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has,” Adams said at the time on his YouTube show, Real Coffee With Scott Adams. “It’s a terrible disease.”
In November, Adams appealed directly to former President Donald Trump for help, claiming his healthcare provider, Kaiser Permanente, had failed to promptly schedule treatment involving a newly FDA-approved drug. Saying his condition was rapidly deteriorating, Adams wrote that access to the medication could give him “a fighting chance” to live longer.
“He offered to help me if I needed it. I need it,” Adams wrote. Trump later responded publicly, saying, “On it!”
Despite his illness, Adams said he initially avoided going public about his diagnosis because he feared being defined solely by his condition. He decided to speak openly, however, after Biden’s announcement, expressing sympathy for the former president and his family.
Adams rose to prominence with Dilbert, first published in 1989. The comic strip, known for its sharp satire of corporate culture and office life, became a cultural staple, appearing in thousands of newspapers worldwide. Its success led to bestselling books, merchandise, and an animated television series, cementing Adams’ reputation as a leading voice in workplace humor.
However, Adams’ later years were marked by controversy. In 2023, most newspapers dropped Dilbert following a racist rant he made on his YouTube channel. Adams refused to apologize, stating that his remarks were intentional, a stance that effectively ended the comic’s widespread syndication.
Despite the backlash, Adams remained a vocal political commentator and a supporter of Donald Trump until his death.
His passing closes a chapter on a career that significantly shaped modern workplace satire, while also leaving behind a legacy complicated by personal controversy and outspoken views.
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