Fans are devastated at the news that Frank Fritz, the antiques expert who gained fame on the reality series American Pickers, has died at 60.
Fritz, who left the series in 2021, had been suffering from health problems and was hospitalized from a stroke two years ago.
The news was announced by Fritz’s friend and co-star Mike Wolfe, who said that Fritz passed away last night.
“I’ve know Frank for more [than] 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,” Wolfe wrote in a social media tribute. “The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.”
Fritz and Wolfe gained fame as the hosts of the reality TV series American Pickers, which premiered on the History Channel in 2010. The series showed the two “pickers” traveling across the USA, searching for valuable antiques and collectibles in unexpected places.
“We’re looking for amazing 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’ll buy anything we think we can make a buck on.”
“We make a living telling the history of America… one piece at a time.”
The series attracted millions of viewers, becoming one of History Channel’s most popular programs. In its debut year it was the #1 non-fiction series among total viewers and adults 25-54.
While the antiques were often interesting, there’s no doubt it was the chemistry and charisma of the two hosts that kept viewers coming back for more.
In 2021, it was announced that Fritz would be leaving American Pickers after a decade on the hit series. Fritz said the decision was not his own, and that he was pushed out by the network after a back surgery.
“I didn’t leave the show,” he told The Sun at the time. “I finished shooting and then I had a little back surgery and the pandemic came.”
He also suggested that his co-host’s ego was a factor, saying the show had “tilted towards him 1,000 percent.” “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years,” Fritz said. “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.”
In July 2022, Fritz was hospitalized from a stroke. In 2023, he had a tearful reunion with Mike Wolfe, and the two resolved their purported feud. However, Fritz declined an offer to rejoin American Pickers, deciding to focus on his health.
It’s clear that the two former co-hosts have remained friendly since then, and it seems Wolfe was by his side til the end.
“We’ve been on countless trips and shared so many miles and I feel blessed that I was there by his side when he took one last journey home,” Wolfe wrote on Instagram. “I love you buddy and will miss you so much I know [you’re] in a better place.”
American Pickers remains a staple of the History Channel lineup. Fritz has never officially been replaced as co-host, though series regulars like Danielle Colby, Mike Wolfe’s brother Robbie, and friend and antiques expert “Jersey Jon” Szalay will rotate accompanying Wolfe on his antiquing trips.
Colby also shared her own tribute to Fritz on social media. “Frank, I will miss your ability to make everyone laugh, your love for talking tattoos, your epic collections but what I will miss the most are those little glimpses of vulnerability from time to time,” she wrote.
“Frank, you loved your cat and your momma and we bonded on those things. You will be missed for all of these reasons and so many more.
Rest in Peace Road Dog.”
Rest in peace to the iconic reality TV star Frank Fritz 😢🙏 Please share this story in his memory.
Clint Eastwood heartbroken by his family at age ninety-four. Fans are now in disbelief
The iconic actor’s daughter, Kathryn Eastwood, stirs up controversy on social media with an outburst.
At Clint Eastwood’s daughter Morgan Eastwood’s wedding in Carmel, California, over the weekend, a joyful celebration swiftly descended into an emotional maelstrom. Family strife that erupted during the event at Clint’s opulent house was a social media mess.
Another of Clint’s daughters, Kathryn Eastwood, shared a heartwarming video of herself dancing with her father, who is 94 years old. Her caption, “Had to dance with my dad for 50 f**king seconds before we were interrupted,” however, indicated underlying tensions. Kathryn began expressing her feelings publicly on the internet with this post, which was just the start of her online outburst over her family.
“I had to break up with my sister Morgan after her wedding because she’s so concerned with her reputation that she called me ‘insane’ online for the world to hear,” Kathryn said in a particularly emotional post that included Morgan. My capacity to become a mother and have children has been hampered by this, so I need to guard against this monster’s image-driven behavior to spare myself more grief.
Amid a family dispute, Dina Eastwood threatens to file a lawsuit.
When Dina, Kathryn’s stepmother and Clint’s ex-wife, threatened to take legal action if Kathryn didn’t take down the offensive posts, things got out of hand.
“I will give you until tomorrow morning, then I will use the money I stole from your father in your words and file a lawsuit against you,” Dina declared. In a defiant response, Kathryn called Dina a “gold digger” and implied that her fears about inheritance were the source of her actions.
Rather than back off, Kathryn called Morgan “the cruelest most shallow superficial woman I have ever known,” ratcheting up her insults.
What was supposed to be a happy event has been clouded by this well publicized family fight. With his aging and palpably fragile appearance, Clint Eastwood and his normally private family are becoming the focus of intense media scrutiny.
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