If you’ve spent any time on TLC over the last decade, you know Glenn Thore. He’s the soft-spoken, incredibly patient patriarch of the Thore family on My Big Fat Fabulous Life. He's the foil to Whitney Way Thore’s high-energy antics. Recently, searches asking did Glenn Thore pass away have spiked across social media and Google, leaving fans of the show genuinely worried about the state of the "Babs and Glenn" legacy.
Let’s get the direct answer out of the way immediately: No. Glenn Thore is alive.
It’s easy to see why people get spooked, though. The internet is a weird place where one misinterpreted headline or a "tribute" video on YouTube can trigger a massive wave of panic. Usually, these rumors start because of a misunderstanding regarding his late wife, Babs, or simply because Glenn hasn't posted a selfie in a few weeks.
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Why people keep asking did Glenn Thore pass away
The reality of celebrity culture in 2026 is that death hoaxes are a literal industry. Clickbait sites use vague titles to lure in concerned fans. When it comes to Glenn, the confusion often stems from the very real and very public grieving process the family went through after Barbara "Babs" Thore passed away in late 2022.
Babs was the heart of that show. Her death from cerebral amyloid angiopathy was a major plot point in Season 11. Because Glenn and Babs were seen as an inseparable unit for over 40 years, any news involving "a death in the Thore family" often gets conflated in the minds of casual viewers. People remember a funeral. They remember Whitney crying. They just mix up which parent it was for.
Honestly, it's kinda heartbreaking how these rumors take flight. You see a black-and-white thumbnail on a low-quality YouTube channel with Glenn’s face on it, and your brain jumps to the worst-case scenario. But as of right now, Glenn is very much present, focusing on his "new" life—a concept that has been a huge part of the recent seasons of the show.
The Angie Factor: A New Lease on Life
Another reason for the uptick in interest—and subsequent confusion—is the introduction of Glenn’s "long-lost" daughter, Angie. This was a bombshell. Finding out that Glenn had a child before he met Babs changed the entire family dynamic.
For some viewers, seeing Glenn move to Alabama or spend more time with this newfound family felt like a "goodbye" to his old life. Some interpreted his absence from Whitney's immediate orbit in North Carolina as a sign of declining health or worse. In reality, it was the opposite. He was expanding his world. He was traveling. He was getting to know grandkids he didn't know existed.
Navigating Grief in the Public Eye
Watching an octogenarian navigate the loss of a spouse on national television is heavy stuff. Glenn has been remarkably transparent about his struggle with loneliness.
There were episodes where he looked physically exhausted. He’s older. He’s lost his partner. That kind of stress takes a toll on anyone, and viewers noticed. When a public figure looks tired or sad, the internet's first instinct is often to write an obituary. It’s a cynical habit we’ve developed.
- Fact Check: Glenn hasn't suffered any major publicly reported health crises since Babs' passing.
- Social Presence: He frequently appears in Whitney’s Instagram stories and TikToks, often looking quite dapper and surprisingly adventurous.
- Filming Status: He continues to be a central figure in the production of My Big Fat Fabulous Life.
Whitney has even had to address these rumors herself. She’s been pretty blunt about it. It’s gotta be frustrating to have to tell the world your dad is still breathing just because a bot-generated website decided to use his name for clicks.
How the Hoaxes Actually Work
You've probably seen them. "RIP Glenn Thore" or "Gone Too Soon." These aren't usually written by journalists. They are generated by scripts that scrape trending names and pair them with "death" keywords.
They rely on the fact that you won't click through, or if you do, you'll be buried in so many ads you won't find the truth. It's a predatory side of the "entertainment" category that targets older celebrities specifically. Because Glenn is 78-plus, he’s an easy target for these ghoulish algorithms.
The Current State of Glenn’s Health
So, how is he actually doing? From what we see on the show and through verified social media updates, Glenn is staying active. Activity is the key at his age.
He’s been tackling a "bucket list" of sorts. We’ve seen him go skydiving—which, let’s be honest, is more than most 30-year-olds are doing on a Saturday. He’s been traveling to Switzerland. He’s been leaning into his role as a grandfather.
Does he look older? Sure. He’s a man in his late 70s who has worked hard and loved deeply. But there is a massive difference between aging and passing away.
Lessons in Media Literacy
When you see a headline asking did Glenn Thore pass away, your first move should always be to check a reputable news outlet like People, Variety, or even the family’s verified social media pages. If a major TLC star died, it wouldn’t be a secret on a random blog. It would be front-page news on every entertainment site in the country.
We live in an era where "news" is often just a game of telephone played by AI and people looking for engagement. It's important to look for the "Blue Check" equivalent of information.
What’s Next for the Thore Family?
The show is still a juggernaut for TLC. As long as Whitney is filming, Glenn will likely be there, being the voice of reason or the guy getting talked into some wild new adventure.
His journey through widowhood has actually become a source of inspiration for a lot of people. It’s not often we see the raw, unpolished version of an older man trying to figure out who he is without his wife. It’s "lifestyle" content in its most visceral form. He’s not just a character; he’s a guy living through a universal human experience.
If you’re worried about Glenn, the best thing you can do is support the actual content he’s in rather than clicking on the "In Memoriam" bait.
Actionable Steps for Concerned Fans
Check Verified Sources First If you hear a rumor, head straight to Whitney Way Thore’s official Instagram (@whitneywaythore). She is incredibly active and would be the first person to share any significant news regarding her father. She often posts "Day in the Life" style content that features Glenn.
Report Fraudulent Content When you see those "Rest in Peace" videos on YouTube or Facebook that you know are fake, report them for misinformation. This helps the algorithms realize the content is deceptive and prevents other fans from getting an unnecessary heart scare.
Focus on the Legacy of Babs If you are feeling sentimental about the Thore family, revisit the tribute episodes for Babs. That is where the real "passing away" news occurred, and the family has been very open about using that platform to honor her memory rather than dwelling on false rumors about Glenn.
Wait for Official TLC Announcements Network television moves slowly, but they don't hide major cast changes. If Glenn were to leave the show for health reasons, TLC would issue a formal press release. Until then, assume no news is good news.