Scott Adams, Creator of “Dilbert,” Dies at 68 After Prostate Cancer Battle

Scott Adams, the influential and often controversial cartoonist behind the long-running comic strip Dilbert, has died following a battle with prostate cancer. He was 68.

The news was confirmed by Adams’ first ex-wife, Shelly, during a live stream of Real Coffee with Scott Adams, where she read a final message he wrote to his fans. The letter, dated January 1, 2026, said Adams was still of sound mind and revealed that he had recently converted to Christianity, describing the decision as a “risk-reward” calculation.

Shelly had shared just a day earlier that Adams had entered hospice care earlier this month as his health declined rapidly. Nurses were providing regular care at his home, while Shelly, her daughter, and her sister helped look after him during his final days.

Even as his condition worsened, Adams continued to work. He recorded a podcast episode acknowledging it might be his last — a moment that now carries added weight in light of his passing.

Adams first announced his prostate cancer diagnosis last year, revealing that the disease had spread to his bones and left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Born in the late 1950s, Adams began his career far from the world of syndicated comics. In the late 1980s, while working at Pacific Bell, he launched Dilbert with United Media. The comic’s sharp satire of office life quickly struck a chord with readers.

After the strip was picked up by several hundred newspapers, Adams became a full-time cartoonist. At its peak, Dilbert appeared in around 2,000 newspapers across the United States, making it one of the most widely read workplace comics of its time.

However, Adams’ career took a dramatic turn in 2023 when many newspapers dropped Dilbert following comments he made on a podcast advising white people to “get the f*** away” from Black people. Adams later argued that his views on “wokeness” were the reason the strip was cut.

Despite the controversy that surrounded his later years, Scott Adams leaves behind a complex legacy — one defined by massive success, sharp cultural commentary, and fierce debate.