• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
TechEngage

TechEngage®

Hands-on reviews, research-backed buying guides and technology news.

  • News
  • AI
  • Mobile
  • Apps
  • Security
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Internet & Social
    • Computing
    • Gadgets
    • Gaming
    • Car Tech
    • Business
    • Science & Health
TechEngage » Tech News & Analysis

Father of “cut, copy, and paste” Larry Tesler, dies at 74

Avatar for Laiba Ijaz Laiba Ijaz Follow Laiba Ijaz on X Published: Feb 20, 2020 · 6:05 PM ET Updated: Feb 24, 2020 · 1:14 PM ET

Father of “cut, copy, and paste” Larry Tesler, dies at 74
Larry Tesler / Photo via Wikimedia
FacebookTweetPinLinkedInPrint

Larry Tesler, a computer scientist, who is known for inventing the basic computer commands “cut, copy, and paste,” dies at age 74 on Monday.

Xerox announced the news of Larry’s death on Wednesday via Twitter.

“The inventor of cut/copy & paste, find & replace, and more was former Xerox researcher Larry Tesler. Your workday is easier, thanks to his revolutionary ideas. Larry passed away Monday, so please join us in celebrating him.”

Xerox announced the news of the death of Larry Tesler, but the cause of his death has not been released.

Tesler was born on April 24, 1945, in New York. After studying computer science at Stanford University, he worked for Apple, Yahoo, Amazon, and the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC).

During his time at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in the 1970s, Tesler pioneered “cut, copy, and paste” command. Later in 1979, Tesler was asked to show Apple co-founder Steve Jobs around Xerox PARC. It is when Steve Jobs and some of the Apple employees got to see the Xerox’s Alto computer in action. 

A mouse, folders, pop-up menus, windows, network-based printing and games, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) text editor, Ethernet-based local networking, and the command of “cut, copy, and paste” were some of the features in that computer. 

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was impressed by the research there, and Tesler at a Churchill Club event in San Jose, California said,

“Steve was very excited and was pacing around the room, and occasionally looking at the screen,” Jobs also said, “You are sitting on a goldmine. Why aren’t you doing something with this technology… you could change this world.”

After this tour, Apple ended up making the graphical user interface (GUI) into the macOS. Tesler was persuaded by Steve Jobs to work for Apple that same year. He joined the company Apple in 1980 and worked for the company until 1997. Tesler was involved in major projects there, including QuickTime, Lisa, Macintosh, and Newton tablet.

He left Apple in 1997 and started working for Amazon as vice president of the shopping experience. He then worked for Yahoo as head of the user experience design and research. After leaving Yahoo, he worked for 23andMe for a brief period.

Filed Under: Tech News & Analysis Tagged With: Death, News

Related Stories

  • Googlebook Shows How Android 17 And Gemini Intelligence Could Reshape Google’S Ecosystem

    Googlebook Shows How Android 17 and Gemini Intelligence Could Reshape Google’s Ecosystem

    AIMay 16, 2026

  • Microsoft Confirms October 7 Windows And Surface Event For Local Ai Pcs

    Microsoft Confirms October 7 Windows and Surface Event for Local AI PCs

    Tech News & AnalysisSep 16, 2026

  • Apple Releases Ios 27 And Macos Golden Gate With Siri Ai

    Apple Releases iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate With Siri AI

    Tech News & AnalysisSep 15, 2026

Stay on top of technology

Get TechEngage reviews, buying guides and news in your feed.

Follow on Google News
FacebookTweetPinLinkedInPrint
Avatar for Laiba Ijaz

Laiba Ijaz

Writer & Reviewer

Laiba Ijaz is a content writer and reviewer at TechEngage who covers mobile devices, technology news, and apps.

Joined January 2020

Reader Interactions

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

Please read our comment policy before submitting your comment. Your email address will not be used or published anywhere. You will only receive comment notifications if you opt to subscribe below.

Primary Sidebar

Follow us on Google News

Recent Stories

  • Microsoft Windows Surface Event Oct 7 2026 |
    Tech News & AnalysisMicrosoft Confirms October 7 Windows and Surface Event for Local AI PCsSep 16, 2026
  • Best Power Banks For Travel 2026 |
    Reviews & Buying GuidesBest Power Banks for Travel: 8 TSA-Friendly Picks for 2026Sep 16, 2026
  • Best Mechanical Keyboards Under 100 Featured |
    Reviews & Buying GuidesBest Mechanical Keyboards Under $100: 8 Picks for 2026Sep 15, 2026
  • Apple Ios 27 Siri Ai Featured |
    Tech News & AnalysisApple Releases iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate With Siri AISep 15, 2026
  • Featured |
    Reviews & Buying GuidesBest Wireless CarPlay Adapters in 2026: 6 Picks for Wired-CarPlay CarsSep 14, 2026

More in Tech News & Analysis

  • Tesla Roadster October 1 Reveal Waco |
    Mobility & Car TechTesla Sets October 1 Roadster Reveal in Waco, Invites Reservation HoldersSep 14, 2026
  • Feat |
    Tech News & AnalysisGoogle Launches Gemini Desktop App for Windows With Alt+Space ShortcutSep 11, 2026
  • Jens Kreuter Ngmtse5R9Ei Unsplash Jpg |
    Tech News & AnalysisProjector vs TV: Which Should You Actually Buy in 2026?Mar 12, 2024
  • Top Tech Journalists Image Jpg |
    Tech News & AnalysisTop Tech Journalists Worth Following: 20 Voices That Shape the IndustryDec 30, 2023
More Tech News & Analysis stories →

Footer

Discover

  • About TechEngage
  • Company News & Updates
  • Our Team
  • Advertise
  • Send us a tip
  • Startup Submissions
  • TechEngage Brand Kit
  • Contact us
  • Tools

Legal pages

  • Editorial Standards
  • Reviews Policy
  • Our Ethics
  • Corrections Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • GDPR Compliance
  • Copyright & DMCA

Must reads

  • Best Mechanical Keyboards Under $100
  • Best USB-C Hubs
  • Best Portable SSDs
  • Best Gaming Graphics Cards (GPUs)
  • Best Long-Range Outdoor WiFi Extenders
  • Best Wireless CarPlay Adapters
  • Best Slack Alternatives
  • Best Long-Range Walkie-Talkies

About TechEngage

TechEngage® is an independent technology publication covering tech news, reviews and buying guides since 2003.

Founded
2003
Publisher
TechAbout LLC
ISSN
2690-3776
Google NewsRSS feed

© 2026 TechEngage®. All Rights Reserved. TechEngage® is a project of TechAbout LLC.

TechEngage® is a registered trademark in the United States under Trademark Number 6823709 and in the United Kingdom under Trademark Number UK00003417167. It is also ISSN protected under ISSN 2690-3776 and has OCLC Number 1139335774.