Randy Pausch Dies

The computer science professor Randy Pausch, who rose to fame after giving an unusual last lecture about celebrating life in the face of his pancreatic cancer, died Friday.

The 47 year old professor died at his home in Chesapeake, Va., according to Wall Street Journal columnist Jeffrey Zaslow, who helped start on Randy Pausch to fame after writing about the speech — which also got well-known attention when it was posted on video sharing site YouTube.

When Randy Pausch was offered a contract to write a book expanding on his speech, Zaslow co-authored the non-fiction title. The Last Lecture became a bestseller.

He was diagnosed with deadly pancreatic cancer in September 2006.

A year later, Randy Pausch took part in a lecture series at the university that saw professors give hypothetical final talks and speak about what mattered most to them.

The popular and colorful Pausch drew a packed crowd for his light-hearted session, dedicated to his children.

He joked about his realized and unrealized childhood dreams and urged people to have more fun and live life to the fullest.

Other than the book deal and internet interest, he was invited to visit The Oprah Winfrey Show and make other TV appearances. He also created a blog that delivered updates on his life.

Randy Pausch is survived by his wife, three children, his mother and his sister.