Scott Adams, the creator of the widely popular comic strip “Dilbert,” which humorously depicted the struggles of white-collar office workers and lampooned modern office dynamics, has passed away at the age of 68. The news of his death was shared by his first ex-wife, Shelly Miles, during a livestream on Adams’s social media platforms. Adams had disclosed in 2025 that he was battling prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones and was under hospice care at his residence in Northern California.
During its peak, “Dilbert,” featuring the iconic character in a white shirt and red tie, was syndicated in over 2,000 newspapers across 70 countries and 25 languages. Adams received the prestigious Reuben Award from the National Cartoonist Society in 1997, and “Dilbert” was the first fictional character to be listed among the most influential Americans by Time magazine in the same year.
The comic strip faced a sudden downfall in 2023 when Adams made racist comments, leading to his removal from syndication and severance of ties with his distributor. Despite the setback, Adams relaunched the comic strip as “Dilbert Reborn” on the platform Rumble and continued engaging with a conservative audience through a podcast called “Real Coffee with Scott Adams.”
Adams, who started his career while working at a corporate job in the 1980s, introduced “Dilbert” as a satire on corporate environments, showcasing the absurdities of office bureaucracy and management. His creation of characters like the pointy-haired boss, Wally, Asok, and Alice resonated with audiences and brought humor to the daily grind of office life.
Over the years, Adams faced criticism for controversial remarks on various social issues, leading to a shift in the tone of his comic strip and public persona. Despite the controversies surrounding him, Adams maintained a staunch stance on free speech and continued to engage with his audience through various platforms.
The legacy of Scott Adams and his creation “Dilbert” continues to spark discussions on workplace culture and societal norms, leaving behind a mixed legacy that encompasses both humor and controversy.