SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — Scott Adams, the creator of the long-running comic strip “Dilbert,” has died after a battle with metastatic prostate cancer, according to statements shared by members of The Scott Adams School and his family. He was 68. Adams, a Bay Area resident, had spoken openly in recent months about his declining health. His cancer had spread to his bones last year. Just one day before his death, he told fans during an online chat streamed on X that he was “way past my expiration” date and that there were “no promises” he could live for even one more day.
In the online meeting, Adams described worsening pain and fatigue. He said doctors told him those signs would mark how much time he had left. “My tiredness and my pain are maxing out,” he said. “I’m in quite bad shape with the bones.”
He also thanked those closest to him. Adams called his former wife, Shelly Miles, “the only thing keeping me alive right now.” Miles later confirmed his death during a YouTube message to fans. “Unfortunately, this isn’t good news,” she said. “He’s not with us anymore.” Adams also expressed gratitude to conservative writer and biographer Joel Pollak, whom he credited for support during his illness. “So I’m hanging on as long as I can,” Adams said during the chat.
Adams launched “Dilbert” in 1989. The comic strip offered a sharp and often absurd take on corporate culture and office life. It quickly gained a loyal following among white-collar workers and managers alike. At its peak, “Dilbert” ran in hundreds of newspapers around the world. Readers embraced its cynical humor and familiar workplace characters. The strip became a cultural touchstone for a generation navigating cubicles, meetings, and office politics.
Adams earned wide recognition for his work. In 1997, the National Cartoonists Society awarded him the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year. The honor placed him among elite peers, including Matt Groening, Gary Trudeau, Gary Larson, and Charles Schulz.
Adams’ career faced major setbacks in 2023. Many newspapers dropped “Dilbert” after he made remarks on his podcast that critics described as racist. In those comments, Adams referred to Black Americans as a “hate group” and said he would no longer “help Black Americans.”
He also advised white people to “get the hell away from Black people.” Publishers across the United States responded by ending their contracts with the comic strip. The backlash sharply reduced “Dilbert’s” presence in print media and reshaped Adams’ public image. Adams defended his views at the time, but the controversy marked a turning point. It overshadowed much of his earlier success and drew strong criticism from civil rights groups, readers, and fellow artists.
President Donald Trump praised Adams following news of his death. Trump called him a “fantastic guy” who supported him when it “wasn’t fashionable to do so.” In a statement, Trump said Adams “bravely fought a long battle against a terrible disease” and offered condolences to his family and friends. Online reactions reflected a divided legacy. Some fans focused on Adams’ influence on workplace humor and cartooning. Others pointed to the harm caused by his later remarks.
Scott Adams leaves behind a body of work that shaped modern office satire. “Dilbert” captured the frustrations of corporate life with clarity and wit. At the same time, Adams’ final years brought intense scrutiny and controversy that altered how many viewed his career.
