On April 7, 2026, André Aptroot celebrated his 65th birthday. Here, we provide a concise biographic sketch of his career in lichenology and mycology. André is considered one of the most prolific lichenologists and mycologists of all time and the most prolific in modern history, publishing more than 1,230 scientific works and describing 1,332 new taxa to date, including 1,265 species, 65 genera, and two infraspecies. He is one of only about a handful of global specialists in tropical lichens, with numerous contributions to the knowledge of the lichen biota of diverse regions across the globe. Especially important is his work in numerous tropical areas, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos, the Guianas, Brazil, Madagascar, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. In this dedication, we provide a concise overview of André’s career and touch on his impact on global lichen and fungal taxonomy. Key words: Graphidaceae, Pleosporales, Pyrenulaceae, Sordariomycetes, Trypetheliaceae.