The series "Dilbert", which satirically depicted office life, appeared in thousands of newspapers around the world, but after Adams made a series of racist statements in 2023, the strip faded from public view.
Adams encouraged segregation between Black and white people and expressed other far-right views.
Adams received the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award, one of the most prestigious awards for cartoonists, in 1997. That same year, "Dilbert" became the first fictional character to be included on Time magazine's list of the most influential Americans.
His ex-wife, Shelly Miles, posted a death announcement on Adams' social media accounts on Tuesday. Adams revealed last year that he had prostate cancer that had spread.
"I had a fantastic life; I gave it everything I had," the statement said, among other things.
President Donald Trump described Adams in a statement as a "great guy who liked and respected me when it wasn't very popular to do so."
