Tom Oar has not died. The 81-year-old star of History Channel’s Mountain Men is alive, and the rumors mixing up his name are false. What is true, and confirmed by the network itself: Season 14, which premiered September 3, 2026, is his official farewell season.
Last updated: September 23, 2026
Quick Facts About Tom Oar
| Full name | Tom Oar |
| Age | 81 |
| Known for | Mountain Men (History Channel), original cast since 2012 |
| Status | Alive; retiring from the show after Season 14 |
| Residence | Yaak Valley, Montana (winters in Florida) |
| Spouse | Nancy Oar |
| Final season | Season 14, premiered September 3, 2026 |
Is Tom Oar Dead? Debunking the Rumors
No. The “Tom Oar obituary” and “Tom Orr obituary” searches that spike periodically online aren’t tied to any actual news event, they’re a byproduct of how often his name gets misspelled (“Orr”) and how frequently reality-TV cast members get caught up in death hoaxes. Family friend Connie Oar addressed one such round of rumors directly on social media in December 2024, confirming he’d simply been out checking his traps. There’s no obituary, no funeral notice, and no statement from History Channel suggesting otherwise.
Is Tom Oar Selling His Montana Home?
A separate rumor has circulated in Mountain Men fan groups on Facebook: some fans have speculated that Tom and Nancy are selling their Yaak Valley cabin and relocating permanently to Ocala, Florida. This is different from the confirmed fact above that the couple already winters in Florida. No real estate listing, family statement, or news report confirms the Montana property is for sale, and the speculation appears to have grown out of posts discussing where the couple spends the colder months rather than any actual listing or announcement. Until a credible source says otherwise, the Yaak Valley cabin remains their primary home.
Why Is Tom Oar Leaving Mountain Men? What’s Actually Confirmed
This is the part most coverage gets vague on, so here’s what’s actually sourced. In August 2025, TV Insider confirmed with History Channel that Season 14 is Tom Oar’s final season on the show. The network’s own description frames it as Tom deciding “whether to keep going or hand off the torch,” making room for newer cast members. Tom himself put it simply: “It’s hard to quit anything that you really like to do.”
His eighties have brought what his own bio describes as “new challenges” for wilderness living, and earlier seasons referenced a cardiac health scare that had him wearing a defibrillator vest. None of that has been confirmed as the specific reason for his exit, but it lines up with why he and Nancy now spend winters in Florida closer to family and healthcare, something addressed in more detail on our Where Does Tom Oar Live Now page.
From Rodeo to the Yaak Valley
Tom Oar’s path to Mountain Men started in the rodeo circuit before he and Nancy settled in Montana’s Yaak Valley roughly 50 years ago, building the hand-hewn cabin they still live in and making their living through trapping, tanning hides, and traditional craft. The full story of his early life and career is covered in our Tom Oar Mountain Men biography.
FAQs
Is Tom Oar still on Mountain Men?
Yes, through Season 14, which is his confirmed final season. Earlier seasons had already reduced his screen time; the network has now made his exit official. More detail: Is Tom Oar still on Mountain Men?
Where does Tom Oar live today?
Primarily in the Yaak Valley in Montana, in the log cabin he and Nancy built. They spend winters in Florida, closer to family and healthcare. Full report: Where Does Tom Oar Live Now?
Who is Nancy Oar?
Nancy is Tom’s wife and has appeared alongside him on Mountain Men for years, sharing the trapping and homesteading work at their Yaak Valley property. More on her: Who Is Nancy Oar?
What happened to Jack Oar?
Jack is Tom’s brother, known for his falconry background. He’s stepped back from regular TV appearances but still lives in southern Idaho pursuing traditional outdoor skills. Full story: What Happened to Jack Oar?
Why do people search “Tom Orr” instead of “Tom Oar”?
It’s a common misspelling of his surname, not a different person or a different rumor, just the most frequent typo tied to his name online.
What happened to Tom Oar of Mountain Men?
Nothing happened to him beyond the ordinary challenges of his age. Tom is retiring after Season 14 by his own choice, confirmed by History Channel, not because of any accident, illness announcement, or death. The “what happened” searches are driven by the same recurring death-hoax rumors addressed above.
Has any Mountain Men cast member passed away?
Not that History Channel or any cast member’s family has announced. The recurring “who passed away from Mountain Men” searches tend to follow the same pattern as the Tom Oar rumors: spikes tied to name confusion or hoax posts, not any confirmed death among the show’s cast.
More Tom Oar Photos
Fans have been sharing photos from his decades on the show and off; see our full Tom Oar Mountain Men fan group images gallery.
Sources
- TV Insider, “Tom Oar Sets Final Season on ‘Mountain Men’, Why Is He Leaving?”, August 2025
- Connie Oar, family statement via Facebook, December 21, 2024
- History Channel, Mountain Men Season 14 (premiered September 3, 2026)
- Tom Oar’s official Willow Bend Trading Post, for verified updates and products from Tom and Nancy directly.
Disclaimer
This article has been updated to correct earlier inaccuracies regarding Tom Oar’s reported death. The information presented reflects verified accounts as of the time of writing.
