Key facts
- Cleve Moler, co-founder of MathWorks and creator of MATLAB, died on May 20, 2026, at the age of 86.
- He was a professor at the University of Michigan, Stanford University, and the University of New Mexico.
- Moler co-authored foundational numerical computing libraries LINPACK and EISPACK.
- He created the first version of MATLAB as a teaching tool to simplify matrix computations.
- MathWorks was founded in 1984 to commercialize MATLAB.
- MATLAB is used by millions of scientists and engineers globally.
Cleve Moler, the mathematician and computer scientist renowned for creating MATLAB and co-founding MathWorks, died on May 20, 2026, at the age of 86. His work fundamentally transformed numerical computing, making advanced mathematical algorithms accessible to a global audience of scientists and engineers.
Moler, who was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1939, developed a passion for numerical analysis at Caltech, where he earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics. He later completed his Ph.D. at Stanford University under the guidance of computer science pioneer George Forsythe, focusing on matrices.
Over a distinguished academic career spanning nearly 20 years at the University of Michigan, Stanford University, and the University of New Mexico, Moler sought to bridge the gap between complex mathematical theory and practical application. During the 1970s, after co-authoring the foundational Fortran libraries LINPACK and EISPACK, he developed the initial version of MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory). This was intended as a teaching tool to allow his students to utilize the power of these libraries without needing extensive Fortran programming knowledge.
Recognizing MATLAB's broader potential, Moler partnered with Jack Little and Steve Bangert to establish MathWorks in 1984, commercializing the platform for the IBM PC. Under Moler's leadership as chief mathematician, MATLAB evolved from a classroom utility into a comprehensive ecosystem used by millions across diverse fields such as aerospace, genetics, finance, and engineering.
Moler's contributions were widely recognized, including his election to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, and his designation as a Computer History Museum Fellow in 2017. Colleagues remember him for his intellectual humility, kindness, and mentorship, hailing him as the "maestro who taught computers to speak the elegant language of the matrix."