American Pickers actor Frank Fritz has died at the age of 60, his co-star and life-long friend Mike Wolfe has confirmed.
The History Channel series followed Mike and Fritz as they travelled around the US on the hunt for antique treasures.
Fritz starred in the reality show alongside Mike since its debut in 2010, but in 2021 the former announced his departure citing health issues, including suffering from Crohn’s disease and going through back surgery.
In July 2022, he was hospitalised with a stroke, and two years later he has died during the night of September 30, 2024.
Sharing the news over Instagram with a picture of the pair smiling side by side, Mike wrote a touching tribute, which read: ‘It’s with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night.
‘I’ve known Frank for more than half my life and what you’ve seen on TV has always been what I have seen, a dreamer who was just as sensitive as he was funny. The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.
‘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.’
When it was announced Fritz had quit the show, Wolfe had called him ‘like a brother’, and shared on Instagram: ‘I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me.
‘The journey that Frank, Dani (Danielle), and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding.’
However, their relationship was seemingly hanging by a thread in 2020, as in a later interview with The Sun, Fritz said that Wolfe’s statement on his departure from the show was, he thought, ‘bull***t.’
‘Mike’s statement was bull***t, somebody wrote it out for him. We never were friends in grade school. I don’t believe in ten years he’s said five nice things to me, you know? Unless he was cutting somebody else down and we were both laughing,’ Fritz said.
The pair were said to have reconciled in 2023, with sources saying they were not feuding after all, but just needed a bit of space.
This aside, on TV the pair were known together as one of American TV’s favourite duos, as their show became one of the channel’s greatest comfort-watch hits.
With the help of Danielle Colby at their headquarters, the trio would find forgotten treasures and sell them for often huge profit.
The US Sun reported in January this year that Fritz was residing in an assisted living facility to help with physical therapy after his stroke.
Many fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to Fritz, as @gratefulhike said: ‘Such sad news to hear. Rest in peace, Frank Fritz.’
‘RIP Bearded Charmer, may you find the great pick in the sky!’ said mark.pribanic on Mike’s Instagram post, while @OnTheBrightOne wrote: ‘This is heartbreaking 💔. It was too soon, he was so young.’
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