You’ve probably seen him a thousand times. The kid with the bow tie, the incredible smile, and that voice that just makes you want to stop scrolling and actually listen. His name is Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres, though most of us just know him as "Kaleb from Shriners." But there’s a weird thing that happens when someone becomes the face of a national campaign. They sort of get frozen in time.
People constantly ask, "Wait, how old is Kaleb now?" because the commercials we see on TV vary so much. One minute he looks seven, the next he’s clearly a teenager. It’s confusing. Honestly, it’s one of the most searched things about him, right up there with people checking to see if those "RIP Kaleb" rumors they saw on Facebook were real (spoiler: they aren’t).
So, How Old Is Kaleb From Shriners in 2026?
Let’s get the math out of the way first. Kaleb was born in 2009. That makes him 16 or 17 years old in 2026, depending on the exact month.
It feels fast, right? We’ve basically watched him grow up in 30-second increments between local news segments and football games. He first started appearing in Shriners Children's commercials when he was a much younger kid, and because those ads stay in rotation for years, his age in the public imagination is a bit of a moving target.
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His journey didn’t start with a commercial, though. It started seven days after he was born. That was the first time he had surgery at Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada.
The Reality of Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Kaleb lives with a condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), which most people know as brittle bone disease. It’s not just "getting hurt easily." It is a massive, life-altering reality. By the time Kaleb was a young teenager, he had already endured over 200 bone fractures and more than 11 surgeries.
Think about that. Two hundred fractures.
Most of us freak out if we break an arm once in our lives. Kaleb has dealt with that more times than most people have had a common cold. But when you hear him talk, he’s not looking for pity. He’s usually talking about gaming or his dreams for the future. He’s a regular teenager who just happens to have bones that require rods and specialized care to stay stable.
Why the "RIP" Rumors Won't Die
The internet can be a pretty dark place. Every year or so, a rumor starts circulating that Kaleb has passed away. It usually gains steam on TikTok or Facebook through "tribute" videos that are actually just clickbait.
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Here is the truth: Kaleb is alive and doing well. The confusion often stems from the passing of other Shriners patients or children with similar names. In 2021, for example, a different child named Kaleb died, and social media users—well-meaning but reckless—started sharing photos of Kaleb-Wolf Torres instead. It forced Shriners to put out official statements confirming he was fine.
Life Beyond the Commercials
What’s Kaleb actually doing now that he's a teenager? He isn't just sitting around waiting for the next film crew to show up.
He's a huge fan of gaming and collectible card games. He’s also expressed a real interest in communications and media arts. It makes sense, doesn't it? He’s been in front of the camera for half his life. He knows how to connect with people. He has that rare ability to speak to an audience of millions and make it feel like he’s just chatting with a friend.
Kaleb’s mom, Marie-Hélène, has been his biggest advocate since day one. She’s often talked about how the hospital staff became a second family. For them, Shriners isn’t just a place for "treatment." It’s the reason Kaleb can stand, walk with assistance, and plan a future that involves a career in media.
The Impact of the "Kaleb Effect"
Shriners Children's has had many ambassadors over the years—Alec is another one you’ve likely seen—but Kaleb has a specific kind of "staying power."
- Awareness: He put a recognizable face on a rare genetic condition.
- Donations: His ads have helped raise millions for pediatric specialty care.
- Representation: He shows that a disability doesn't mean a lack of personality or ambition.
He isn't a mascot. He’s a spokesperson. There’s a big difference.
What You Should Know Moving Forward
If you see a "new" Shriners commercial today, Kaleb might look younger in it than he does in real life. That’s just the nature of television marketing. But as he moves through his late teens, his role is naturally evolving from the "cute kid" to a young man with a powerful testimony about healthcare and resilience.
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It’s also worth noting that Kaleb’s care is ongoing. OI doesn't have a "cure" in the traditional sense. It’s about management—surgeries to replace rods in his legs as he grows, physical therapy, and specialized treatments to increase bone density.
Actionable Insights for Supporters:
If you want to support kids like Kaleb, don't just share a video. Look into how Shriners operates. They provide care regardless of a family's ability to pay, which is why the fundraising Kaleb does is so vital. You can follow the official Shriners Children's social media pages for real-time updates on their ambassadors to avoid falling for those "death hoax" scams.
Kaleb is a 16-year-old kid who likes gaming, loves his family, and has broken more bones than you can probably count. He’s still here, he’s still smiling, and he’s still working to make sure other kids get the same chances he had.