United States
News Desk | Media and Culture
Scott Adams, the creator of the long-running comic strip Dilbert, has died at the age of 68 following a diagnosis of prostate cancer, according to multiple media reports published Tuesday. His death was confirmed by outlets including Politico, Yahoo News, and The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter.
Adams, whose satirical comic strip chronicled the absurdities of corporate office life, gained international recognition after Dilbert debuted in newspapers in 1989. The strip was syndicated in thousands of publications worldwide and spawned books, television adaptations, and merchandise over several decades.
According to reports, Adams had publicly disclosed his cancer diagnosis in recent years and spoke intermittently about his health. He continued to comment on public issues and maintain an online presence while receiving treatment, the reports stated.
Born in 1957, Adams worked in the corporate sector before turning his experiences into the basis for Dilbert, which became a defining cultural reference point for white-collar workplaces during the 1990s and early 2000s. His work was known for its minimalist art style and pointed commentary on management culture.
In later years, Adams drew controversy for public statements unrelated to his comic work, prompting some newspapers to discontinue carrying Dilbert. Despite this, the strip’s earlier influence on workplace humor and popular culture remained significant.
Adams is survived by family members, according to published obituaries. Details regarding funeral arrangements were not immediately released.
Jesse Zanger is the managing editor of aldalive.com and is based in New York City. He earned a degree in Philosophy from Hamilton College in 1998. Jesse has spent his entire professional career in New York, reporting on both local and national news for MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, Spectrum News NY1, Fox News, and 5ebackgrounds.com. During his time at local News Channel, he was part of the team that helped introduce the on-screen news crawl shortly after 9/11. As a member of the leadership team at 5ebackgrounds.com, the site has received notable industry honors, including a New York State Broadcasters Association Award (2019) and a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award (2017).