‘American Pickers’ star Frank Fritz dead at 60
Frank Fritz, the star of “American Pickers,” has died at 60.
His co-star and friend Mike Wolfe posted on Instagram and Facebook Tuesday sharing the news. Wolfe said Fritz died Monday night.
“It’s with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night,” he wrote.
He continued, “I’ve [known] Frank for more then 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.”
Wolfe didn’t specify a cause of death, but Fritz was hospitalized for a stroke two years before he passed away.
“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,” Wolfe continued.
“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 your in a better place.”
Fritz co-hosted “American Pickers” since 2010. The long-running History Channel reality series followed Fritz and Wolfe as they traveled the US searching for rare artifacts and treasures to either sell in antique shops or put in their personal collections.
The History Channel and “American Pickers” producers Cineflix Production told The Post in a joint statement Tuesday: “We are saddened to share that our friend and beloved member of the History Channel and American Pickers family, Frank Fritz, has passed away on September 30, 2024. Frank filmed American Pickers for over a decade.”
Their statement continued, “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.”
Fritz stopped appearing on the show during Season 21. He was later replaced by Rob Wolfe, Wolfe’s brother.
Fritz owned Frank Fritz Finds, an antiques store in Savanna, Illinois. A motorcycle enthusiast, Fritz was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame in 2019.
At the induction ceremony on Aug. 8 of that year, Fritz told local newspaper the Black Hills Pioneer, “This is an honor that I will proudly talk about for the rest of my life.”
Per the outlet, when he was younger, Fritz was never interested in sports. Rather, he was interested in motorbikes and collecting stamps and beer cans. After his stepfather told him that he had to work for what he wanted, Fritz went to summer school and spent his afternoons working. During his sophomore year of high school, he was able to purchase his 1959 Harley-Davidson Sportster, which he still had in 2019.
The “American Pickers” star told the outlet that his greatest achievement was working hard, having life-long friends, and still having his first bike.
A rep from the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame told The Post in a statement, “We were saddened to hear about the passing of Frank. We were honored to have him inducted to the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2019. Frank Fritz’s story is a reminder that sometimes the simplest pleasures—riding a motorcycle, working for what you want, and cherishing lifelong friendships—are the most fulfilling. His enduring love for his Harley, and the open road, speaks to the heart of motorcycling culture. It’s not about the flash or the latest trends; it’s about staying true to who you are and the bike that’s been with you every step of the way.”
They added, “We are thankful that we were able to have such an amazing person be a part of our own story and hope to continue to build that legacy he was so proud of.”
Fritz suffered from numerous health issues, including back surgery and Crohn’s disease.
In July 2022, Wolfe was again the one who shared the news about Fritz’s stroke.
“I have been very private in the past year in regards to Frank’s life and the journey he’s been on,” Wolfe wrote at the time.
“There has been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show but now is not the time to set the record straight. Now is the time to pray for my friend.”
After his stroke, Fritz was also placed into a guardianship.
When Wolfe made a reference to “opinions” about his friendship with Fritz, he was referring to their rumored falling out.
“I haven’t talked to Mike in two years,” Fritz told the Sun in a 2021 interview. “He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is.
“The show is tilted toward him 1,000%. I can’t even bend that far down to show you how much. That’s fine,” he went on. “It’s like you’ve got Aerosmith and there’s Steven Tyler and he’s the front man. I found my spot, I’m second and he’s No. 1 on the show. That’s no problem with me, maybe he does have a problem.”
Wolfe and Fritz reportedly reunited and patched things up in 2023.
A mutual friend of the “American Pickers” stars recalled their 2023 reunion to the Quad-City Times.
“Wolfe said, ‘Nobody can replace you, Frank.’ He said it was Frank’s ‘uniquely funny personality’ that made them fit so well together as a team. There were tears flowing on both sides,” their friend said.
The pals also told the outlet that there was no feud. Rather, after over a decade of filming “Pickers” together, “They needed separation to appreciate each other.”
Fritz’s rep, Bill Stankey, told The Post in a statement, “Frank Fritz was a an exceptional human being. He loved life, he cared about people, he always had a kind word to say and he knew more about Americana and antiques than anyone I ever met. He was the anchor of American Pickers. He will be missed by his friends, family and fans.”
