Fans are devastated by the news that Frank Fritz, the antiques expert who rose to fame on the reality series American Pickers, has passed away at the age of 60. Fritz, who left the series in 2021, suffered health issues and was hospitalized two years ago after suffering a stroke. The news was announced by Fritz’s friend and co-star Mike Wolfe, who said Fritz died last night. “I have known Frank for more than half my life, and what you saw on television was always what I saw: a dreamer who was as sensitive as he was funny,” Wolfe wrote in an emotional tribute on social media.
“Frank was as much on camera as he was off it and had the ability to touch the hearts of many people simply by being himself.” Fritz and Wolfe rose to fame as hosts of the reality TV series American Pickers, which premiered on the History Channel in 2010.
The series featured the two “pickers” traveling across the U.S. to find valuable antiques and collectibles in unexpected places. “We look for incredible things buried in people’s garages and barns,” the show’s opening narration explains. “What most people see as junk, we see as dollar signs. We buy anything we think we can make money off of.” “We make our living telling the story of America… one piece at a time.”
The series drew millions of viewers and became one of the History Channel’s most popular shows. In its debut year, it was the #1 non-fiction series among viewers and adults ages 25-54. While the antiques were often interesting, it’s undeniable that the chemistry and charisma of the two hosts kept viewers tuning in again and again.
