Scott Adams, the American cartoonist who created the globally syndicated Dilbert comic strip, has died at the age of 68 following a battle with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. His ex-wife, Shelly Miles, announced his passing during a livestream on his YouTube channel, Real Coffee With Scott Adams, on Tuesday, 13 January 2026.
A Heartbreaking Final Message
During the emotional announcement, Miles read aloud a letter written by Adams before his death. The message, dated 1 January 2026, was addressed directly to his audience. "If you are reading this, things did not go well for me," the letter began. Adams confirmed he was of sound mind when writing it, stating, "My body failed before my brain."
He also addressed personal beliefs, noting that while he was not a believer, many Christian friends had urged him to "find Jesus" before he died. Adams wryly observed that "the risk reward calculation for doing so looks so attractive to me." He assured readers that all decisions regarding his estate were made free from any external influence.
A Public Battle with Cancer
Adams first publicly revealed his diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer in May of last year, at which time he believed he had only a few months to live. His health declined rapidly towards the end of 2025, with Adams posting on social media platform X about issues with his medication.
In a sobering video update streamed on 1 January 2026, Adams shared the grim prognosis from his doctors. "The odds of me recovering are essentially zero," he told viewers, advising them to prepare. He detailed his symptoms, including a loss of feeling in his legs and episodes of heart failure that made breathing difficult. The cartoonist passed away at his home in Northern California while receiving hospice care.
The Rise and Fall of Dilbert
Adams published his first Dilbert strip in 1969. At the peak of its popularity, the satirical office cartoon was syndicated in approximately 2,000 newspapers worldwide. However, its widespread appeal dwindled in later years after Adams made a series of controversial remarks.
Many publications ultimately dropped the strip in February 2023. This followed a podcast episode where Adams, discussing a poll, referred to Black Americans as a "hate group" based on the survey's findings. This incident compounded previous controversies related to comments about women and Jewish people, which had already drawn significant negative attention.
Adams was a long-time supporter of former US President Donald Trump, who publicly responded to news of Adams's declining health on his own social media channel with a post telling the cartoonist he was "on it." The legacy of Scott Adams remains a complex tapestry of immense creative success, profound influence on workplace culture, and personal controversy.
