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Frank Fritz, “American Pickers” co-star opposite Mike Wolfe, has died

Posted on by Vanessa
Frank Fritz, “American Pickers” co-star opposite Mike Wolfe, has died

“American Pickers” co-star Frank Fritz died Monday night. He was 60 years old.

Fritz's death was confirmed by his longtime friend and History Channel co-star Mike Wolfe, who posted on Instagram that he was by Fritz's side “as he made a final journey home.”

“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. “Just as much behind the camera as in front of it, Frank had the opportunity to reach the hearts of so many people just by being himself.”

Fritz – owner of Frank Fritz Finds, an antique store in Savanna, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from the Quad Cities – had been in poor health since his stroke on July 14, 2022, which brought Davenport home and taken him to a local hospital.

A few months later, Fritz was placed under temporary guardianship, according to court records.

“As a result of his stroke, Mr. Fritz's decision-making ability is so impaired that he is unable to ensure his own safety or provide essentials such as food, shelter, clothing or medical care,” the motion states Guardianship filed in 2023. He is also “unable to make, communicate or carry out important decisions regarding his own financial affairs.”

While Fritz recovers, a guardian is “necessary to prevent immediate harm,” the petition states.

A long-time friend was appointed as guardian for Fritz's care and a local bank took over management of his finances. The guardian who has supported Fritz since his stroke and others involved had previously declined to speak to the Register through an attorney.

Fritz and Wolfe, childhood friends and reality TV co-stars, rose to fame through their series “American Pickers,” in which they followed collectors as they traveled the country in search of antiques.

The show, which premiered in 2010, deviated from the “Antiques Roadshow” format, which filmed on a controlled set and featured expert commentary. Instead, Wolfe and Fritz relied on their street knowledge and razor-sharp gut instincts as they traveled the back streets and main streets of small towns in search of stories and “picks” – as fans call the items they purchased.

Its folksy formula made reality show gold and made “Pickers” a ratings and rerun behemoth for years.

A particular pain point for avid “Pickers” fans, however, was Fritz's absence from the show. Fans noticed that Fritz had been missing from episodes since the start of the pandemic and Wolfe's brother Rob had taken the passenger seat.

In July 2021, about a year before his stroke, Wolfe officially announced his co-star's exit from the show in an Instagram post.

“I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he was like a brother to me,” Wolfe wrote. “…I will miss Frank, as will all of you, and I pray for the very best and all the best for him on the next part of his journey.”

Fritz had shown initial progress in his recovery over the course of 2023. The guardian installed ramps and grab bars at Fritz's Davenport-area home and contacted local physical therapists to coordinate home therapy, court documents showed.

And the former picker was well enough to enjoy a visit from Wolfe in the summer and an evening in the fall.

A “longtime friend” of Fritz told Barb Ickes of the Quad-City Times that the two reminisced about “old times” when they reunited in 2023, including their shared nervousness before an appearance on “The Late Show With David Letterman.” , one of them the couple's early talk show appearances.

Wolfe “said, 'No one can replace you, Frank,'” the friend told the Times shortly after their meeting on Memorial Day. “He said it was Frank's 'uniquely fun personality' that made them fit together so well as a team.”

“There were tears on both sides.”

This story will be updated.

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