'American Pickers' Star Passes Away At 60
Frank Fritz, the reality TV personality behind the successful “American Pickers” series, has died at 60, the Daily Mail reported.
Fritz was one member of the wildly popular series’ original duo. Joined by co-star Mike Wolfe, both men crisscrossed America’s heartland in search of valuable antiques and treasures long socked away and forgotten. He died at his Iowa home after several years of battling an increasing decline in his health. While the cause of Fritz’s death remains unclear, he was known to have suffered a stroke two years earlier.
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“This is a very tough announcement to make Frank passed away last night around 7:30 he was surrounded by myself, Mike Wolfe made a high speed to get back here from Nashville and other friends,” read a post on Fritz’s Facebook account on Tuesday. “Please understand this is a very rough time for us. Including Mike so be kind as we are trying to figure out how to cope with this. Thank you all for your love and support through the years.”
Wolfe, Fritz’s partner through 24 seasons, expressed his grief online Tuesday. “It’s with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night,” Wolfe wrote on Instagram. “Who would have ever dreamed we would share the cockpit of a white cargo van in front of millions of people interested in our adventures. Before the show we would take off together to places we never knew existed with no destination in mind and just the shared passion to discover something interesting and historic. We’ve been on countless trips and shared so many miles and I feel blessed that I was there by his side when he took one last journey home. I love you buddy and will miss you so much I know you’re in a better place.”
The Sun previously reported that Fritz had been confined to a wheelchair since suffering a stroke in 2022. The episode took a heavy toll on the then-58-year-old whose loved ones requested conservatorship from a court. Court documents from the case read, “Mr. Fritz’s decision-making capacity is so impaired that he is unable to care for his own safety or to provide for necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, or medical care without which physical injury or illness may occur.”
Danielle Colby, another regular member of the “American Pickers” cast, shared her memories of Fritz and their time together on and off-screen. “Frank, I will miss your ability to make everyone laugh, your love for talking tattoos, your epic collections but what I will miss the most are those little glimpses of vulnerability from time to time,” Colby wrote. “Frank, you loved your cat and your momma and we bonded on those things. You will be missed for all of these reasons and so many more. Rest in Peace Road Dog.”
Debuting in 2010, “American Pickers” took American reality TV by storm, catapulting the History Channel into the upper echelon of most popular daytime series. Working together, Fritz, Wolfe, and Colby encountered collectors of all shades and memorabilia while seeking out true gems for the Iowa antique store. Fritz made it until the show’s 21st season when he announced he would be departing due to an ongoing battle with Crohn’s disease. Sadly, Fritz and Wolfe were estranged for several years after, according to the Daily Mail, though the two co-hosts patched things up shortly before Fritz died.