‘American Pickers’ Star Frank Fritz Dies at 60
The affable and longtime co-host of the wildly popular reality TV show, “American Pickers,” Fritz never fully recovered from a stroke he suffered in 2022.
To many viewers, Frank Fritz, the scruffy sidekick and longtime friend of co-host Mike Wolfe, was the secret sauce that made “American Pickers” a hit when it debuted in 2010 on the History Channel. In their white cargo van, Fritz and Wolfe traveled the backroads of America to rummage through garages and old barns for buried-in-dust treasures.
Known as the “bearded charmer” for his ability to persuade hesitant sellers on the reality TV show, Fritz died from complications from a stroke Sept. 30 while in hospice care in his hometown of Davenport, Iowa. He was 60.
“We are saddened to share that our friend and beloved member of The History Channel and ‘American Pickers’ family, Frank Fritz, has passed away," said a statement from the History Channel and Cineflix Production. "We will always remember 'the bearded charmer' and his never-ending search for vintage motorcycles and bikes. Our thoughts are with Frank's loved ones during this difficult time. He will be deeply missed.”
Through hundreds of episodes and more than 20 season together, Fritz and Wolfe shared a passion for the past, especially, in the case of Fritz, old signs and motorcycles. Unlike the more reserved and dignified "Antiques Roadshow" on public television, “American Pickers” mixed humor and serious appraisals with history and on-the-road adventure through small-town America. The show's concept was simple: Frank and Mike drove around the U.S. looking for antiques and collectibles to buy and resell.
By its fifth episode, “American Pickers” was the second-most-watched show on the History Channel, with an average 3.3 million viewers, just behind another show cut from the same look-what-we-found cloth, “Pawn Stars.”
In a heartfelt tribute shared on Instagram, Wolfe called Fritz a “dreamer who was just as sensitive as he was funny.” Wolfe added, “Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.”
Fritz’s “American Pickers” days came to an abrupt and – for viewers – surprising end in 2021 when the series announced he would not return. In a 2021 interview with the Sun, Fritz said he left the series amid major back surgery, which was then followed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He suffered a stroke in 2022 and also had Crohn’s disease, which according to the Mayo Clinic, is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes the swelling of the tissues in the digestive tract.
Wolfe, in his tribute, recalled the “many miles” he shared with Fritz before and during their “American Pickers” run. “I love you buddy and will miss you so much I know your [sic] in a better place.”
