Scott Adams, the cartoonist and author whose comic strip Dilbert skewered the absurdities of American office life for more than three decades, has died following a diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer. His death was announced Tuesday on his social media accounts and confirmed during the livestream he hosted daily. He was 68.
Adams revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. In recent months, he said physical complications limited his ability to draw, prompting him to step back from illustrating the strip late last year while continuing to write.
Introduced in 1989, “Dilbert” chronicled the frustrations of a bespectacled office worker and his run-ins with clueless management, embodied by the strip’s enduring “pointy-haired boss.” The comic gained national prominence in the 1990s and became one of the most widely syndicated strips in the country. Adams’ approach relied on intentionally vague settings and characters, allowing readers across professions to see their own workplaces reflected in the satire.
A New York native, Adams worked as a bank teller and later as an engineer at Pacific Bell, experiences that informed the strip’s corporate humor. His career accelerated after “Dilbert” found its voice in office-based storylines, earning him the National Cartoonists Society’s top award for comic strips in 1997 and spawning books, calendars, a short-lived animated series and other merchandise.
The strip’s long run in newspapers ended abruptly in February 2023 after Adams made racist remarks about Black Americans in online commentary. Hundreds of newspapers dropped “Dilbert” within days, and the strip was soon removed from syndication. Adams later began self-publishing a subscription version of the comic on his website.
In parallel with his cartooning career, Adams became a prominent political commentator, particularly after emerging as an early and vocal supporter of Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign. His commentary increased his online following and media appearances, and he later visited the White House. Trump acknowledged Adams’ death on social media, noting their relationship and Adams’ influence.
Adams also pursued business ventures with mixed results, including a failed restaurant and a discontinued frozen food product tied to his comic.
He is survived by his ex-wife, Shelly Miles. In a statement prepared before his death, Adams reflected on his career and urged followers to use whatever benefits they gained from his work to help others.
Source: CNN