The man who invented the cut, copy and paste commands on computers has died at age 74 


Pioneering computer scientist who invented ‘cut, copy and paste’ commands for computers has died at the age of 74

  • The pioneering computer scientist whose accomplishments included inventing the cut, copy and paste commands for computers has died
  • Bronx-born Lawrence ‘Larry’ Tesler died this week at the age of 74  
  • The Stanford University graduate specialized in human-computer interaction, and did work for Amazon, Apple, and Yahoo, among others 
  • The idea for the cut and paste command reportedly came from old-style editing that literally entailed cutting portions of printed text and gluing it elsewhere 
  • The popularity of the commands grew after Apple incorporated them in its software on the Lisa computer in 1983 and the original Macintosh 
  • Tesler was recruited to work for Apple in 1980 by its late co-founder Steve Jobs 

The pioneering computer scientist whose accomplishments included inventing the cut, copy and paste commands for computers has died. 

Bronx-born Lawrence ‘Larry’ Tesler died this week at the age of 74. A cause of death has not been released.

Xerox, the company where he spent part of his career, tweeted: ‘Your workday is easier thanks to his revolutionary ideas. Larry passed away Monday, so please join us in celebrating him.’

Lawrence 'Larry' Tesler, the pioneering computer scientist who invented the cut, copy and paste commands for computers has died at the age of 74

Lawrence ‘Larry’ Tesler, the pioneering computer scientist who invented the cut, copy and paste commands for computers has died at the age of 74

The Stanford University graduate (pictured here at the PC Forum in Tucson, Arizona in 1991) specialized in human-computer interaction, utilizing his expertise at companies such as Amazon, Apple, Yahoo and the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)

The Stanford University graduate (pictured here at the PC Forum in Tucson, Arizona in 1991) specialized in human-computer interaction, utilizing his expertise at companies such as Amazon, Apple, Yahoo and the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)

The Stanford University graduate (pictured here at the PC Forum in Tucson, Arizona in 1991) specialized in human-computer interaction, utilizing his expertise at companies such as Amazon, Apple, Yahoo and the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)

The Stanford University graduate specialized in human-computer interaction, utilizing his expertise at companies such as Amazon, Apple, Yahoo and the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC).

The idea for the cut and paste command reportedly came from old-style editing that literally entailed cutting portions of printed text and gluing it elsewhere.  

In a tweet, the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley, said: ‘Tesler created the idea of cut, copy, & paste and combined computer science training with a counterculture vision that computers should be for everyone.’

Tesler spent part of his career at Xerox, leaving the company to work for Apple in 1980 after he was recruited by its late co-founder Steve Jobs

Tesler spent part of his career at Xerox, leaving the company to work for Apple in 1980 after he was recruited by its late co-founder Steve Jobs

Tesler spent part of his career at Xerox, leaving the company to work for Apple in 1980 after he was recruited by its late co-founder Steve Jobs

Tesler worked for Apple for 17 years, becoming chief scientist

Tesler worked for Apple for 17 years, becoming chief scientist

Tesler worked for Apple for 17 years, becoming chief scientist

Its popularity grew after Apple incorporated the commands in its software on the Lisa computer in 1983 and the original Macintosh that came out the following year. 

Tesler left Xerox to work for Apple in 1980 after he was recruited by its late co-founder Steve Jobs. 

He spent 17 years at Apple, becoming chief scientist.

Tesler later went on to establish an education startup, doing stints in user-experience technology at Amazon and Yahoo