Scott Adams, the influential American cartoonist and author best known for creating the Dilbert comic strip, has died at the age of 68, following a long battle with metastatic prostate cancer that spread to his bones. His passing was confirmed on January 13, 2026, by his former wife, Shelly Miles, who made the announcement during a livestream of Adams’ YouTube show Real Coffee with Scott Adams.

In a heartfelt message read on the livestream, Adams reflected on his life, his work, and his connection with audiences around the world, urging readers to “be useful” and to live meaningfully.

From Office Worker to Global Cartoon Icon

Born Scott Raymond Adams in Windham, New York, in 1957, Adams displayed an early interest in drawing and cartooning. After earning a BA in Economics from Hartwick College and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, he worked in corporate America — experiences that would later inform his most famous work.

In 1989, while still employed at Pacific Bell, Adams launched Dilbert, a three-panel comic strip that humorously chronicled the absurdities of office culture, management dysfunction, and everyday corporate life. The strip quickly caught on with readers and was syndicated in hundreds of newspapers worldwide throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, earning Adams the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award in 1997.

Dilbert became a cultural touchstone for office workers and was widely quoted, shared, and adapted into books, merchandise, and an animated television series.

Battling Cancer in the Public Eye

In May 2025, Adams revealed that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones, sharing details of his condition with followers on his daily podcast. Despite aggressive treatment and public appeals — including a widely noted request for medical help from former U.S. President Donald Trump — his prognosis grew increasingly dire.

Adams’ cancer battle became part of his public narrative, and he continued to broadcast, write, and engage with his audience until shortly before his death. His battle highlighted both his resilience and his openness with followers, who had come to know him not only as a cartoonist but as a media personality.

Controversy and Career Shift

Adams’ career later took a politically charged turn that would overshadow some of his earlier success. Beginning in the mid-2010s, he became a vocal supporter of conservative causes and former President Donald Trump, writing blog posts and hosting politically oriented podcasts.

In 2023, a series of controversial remarks made during a livestream led to widespread condemnation and a drastic professional shift: numerous U.S. newspapers dropped Dilbert from syndication following comments about race that editors described as unacceptable. Adams later rebranded his work as Dilbert Reborn and published it online for a subscription audience.

Legacy: Satire, Influence and Debate

Scott Adams leaves behind a deeply complex legacy — one marked by Dilbert’s sharp satire of corporate life and an unmistakable imprint on modern cartooning, even as his later years were clouded by public controversy.

Celebrities, media figures, and political personalities responded to the news of his death. Former President Donald Trump described Adams as a “fantastic guy” and a “Great Influencer” who fought bravely against illness.

As the world reflects on Adams’ life, his influence on workplace satire, comic art, and digital media remains significant and widely discussed.