Scott Adams, Creator of “Dilbert,” Passes Away

Scott Adams, the mind behind the beloved comic strip “Dilbert,” died on January 13 at 68. He had revealed his severe prostate cancer diagnosis during a live show, “Coffee with Scott Adams,” on May 19.

On January 1, he suggested that the new year might mark his last. In that episode, he disclosed that he had spent time in the hospital in December due to complications, including paralysis from the waist down. It was a tough time. He mentioned that he received bad news from his radiologist, stating there was little hope for recovery. “There’s basically zero chance that I’ll recover,” Adams explained, noting he’d never regain feeling in his legs. Additionally, he was dealing with ongoing heart failure, which made breathing tricky at times.

Despite his dire situation, Adams maintained a level of optimism. “I’m breathing and I’m not in pain,” he said. He acknowledged, though, that January could be a pivotal month for him.

During that episode, he expressed frustrations about not being able to breathe during coughing fits, which could last from eight to twelve hours. It sounded exhausting, to say the least. Still, his resolve seemed strong.

Adams was best known for “Dilbert,” a comic that began in 1989 and poked fun at office culture and corporate bureaucracy. However, controversy surrounded him after Andrews McMeel Universal, the comic’s distributor, ended their relationship in 2023 due to his comments about Black Americans. “Dilbert” was published in over 2,000 outlets at its peak.

Following the split, Adams began a new project called “Dilbert Reborn,” aimed directly at subscribers and described as more edgy than the original.

Aside from his work in comics, Adams had made a name for himself as a political commentator. He had predicted Donald Trump’s 2016 election win and often discussed Trump’s persuasive skills, drawing on his background in hypnosis. He shared a moment when Trump offered assistance after his cancer diagnosis, expressing willingness to help in any way necessary.

Adams accepted Trump’s offer regarding his health insurance issues, claiming that it might have saved lives. He had been hospitalized on December 11 for treatment but continued to share updates and even streamed from an ambulance at one point. Despite the hardships, he gradually returned to streaming from home after December 21 and expressed a desire to embrace Christianity before his passing.

In an episode from January 4, he mentioned that taking this step felt wise and could be rewarding. “If it turns out there’s nothing there, I haven’t lost anything,” he said. However, if Christianity proved correct, he felt he would gain something meaningful.

On January 2, Adams asked his fans to share positive reflections about how he impacted their lives for a biography by Joel Pollack, which went viral, garnering thousands of comments.

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld chimed in, sharing how Adams’ work had significantly influenced him. Gutfeld expressed appreciation for Adams’ teachings on persuasion and service, emphasizing the valuable impact Adams had on many lives.