Werewolves, being creatures of folklore and fiction, don’t have a single, definitive set of rules governing their existence—different stories, cultures, and media portray them in wildly different ways. Generally, whether werewolves can die of old age depends on the specific lore you’re diving into.
In some traditions, werewolves are humans cursed or afflicted with lycanthropy, transforming into wolves during full moons or at will. In these cases, they often retain human lifespans and vulnerabilities when not transformed. So, unless the curse explicitly grants immortality or extended life, they’d likely age and die like any human—think of the classic Wolf Man from old Universal films, where the guy’s just a tragic dude with a hairy problem. Old age would catch up eventually, assuming they don’t get silver-bulleted first.
In other stories, particularly in modern fantasy or urban fantasy (like True Blood or The Dresden Files), werewolves might have enhanced longevity or even semi-immortality. Some lore suggests the curse or supernatural nature of lycanthropy slows aging, regenerates cells, or otherwise keeps them spry far beyond a human lifespan. For example, in certain RPGs like Vampire: The Masquerade, werewolves (Garou) don’t explicitly die of old age because their supernatural vitality keeps them going, though they can still perish in battle or from other causes.
Then there’s the rare case where werewolves are depicted as fully immortal, unable to die unless specific conditions are met (e.g., silver weapons, decapitation, or breaking the curse). This is less common but pops up in some high-fantasy settings or romanticized werewolf tales where they’re ageless, brooding hunks howling at the moon for centuries.
Since you’re asking about a fictional concept, I’d say the default answer leans toward “yes, they can die of old age” in most traditional stories, as they’re often just cursed humans with a finite lifespan. But in modern takes, especially where werewolves are more “superpowered,” they might live way longer or dodge the reaper entirely unless something specific takes them out.
If you’ve got a particular werewolf story or universe in mind (like Underworld or Teen Wolf), let me know, and I can tailor the answer to that! Alternatively, I could dig into specific posts on X or web sources for fan theories or niche lore if you want a deeper dive. What’s the vibe you’re going for here?