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‘American Pickers’ star Frank Fritz has died at the age of 60
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‘American Pickers’ star Frank Fritz has died at the age of 60

Frank Fritz, the star of ‘American Pickers’, has died at the age of 60.

His costar and friend, Mike Wolfe, posted the news on Instagram and Facebook on Tuesday. Wolfe said Fritz died Monday evening.

“It is with a broken heart that I share with you all that Frank passed away last night,” he wrote.

He continued: “I’ve known Frank for more than half my life and what you’ve seen on TV has always been the same as I’ve seen: a dreamer who was as sensitive as he was funny. Off camera, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.”


Frank Fritz was hospitalized after suffering a stroke.
Frank Fritz was hospitalized after suffering a stroke. Getty Images

Wolfe did not say a cause of death, but Fritz was hospitalized for a stroke two years before he died.

Wolfe added: “Before the show, we set out together to places we didn’t know existed, with no destination in mind and only the shared passion to discover something interesting and historic. We have made countless trips and shared so many miles.”

He ended his message by saying, “I feel blessed to have been by his side as he made one final journey home. I love you buddy and will miss you so much. I know you in a better place.

Fritz has co-hosted “American Pickers” since 2010. The History Channel’s long-running reality series followed Fritz and Wolfe as they traveled across the U.S. in search of rare artifacts and treasures to sell at antique stores or place in their personal collections.

Producers of The History Channel and “American Pickers,” Cineflix Production, told The Post in a joint statement Tuesday: “We are saddened to announce that our friend and beloved member of The HISTORY Channel and the American Pickers family, Frank Fritz , passed away in September. August 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 bicycles. Our thoughts are with Frank’s loved ones at this difficult time. He will be greatly missed.”

Fritz owned Frank Fritz Finds, an antique store in Savanna, Illinois. Fritz, a motorcycle enthusiast, was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame in 2019.

During the induction ceremony on August 8 of that year, Fritz told the local Black Hills Pioneer newspaper: “This is an honor I will talk about with pride for the rest of my life.”

According to the newspaper, Fritz was never interested in sports when he was younger. He was previously interested in motorcycles and collecting stamps and beer cans. After his stepfather told him 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 lifelong friends and still having his first bicycle.

In July 2022, Wolfe was again the one to share the news of Fritz’s stroke.

“I have been very private over the past year regarding Frank’s life and the journey he has been on,” Wolfe wrote at the time.

“There have been a lot of opinions about me and Frank’s friendship and the show, but this is not the time to set the record straight. Now it’s time to pray for my friend.”

More to come…