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Frank Fritz from ‘American Pickers’ dies at 60: What was the cause of death?
Having struggled with a number of health issues over the years, Fritz died on Monday, his former TV co-host has said.
Former American Pickers star Frank Fritz has died at the age of 60, two years after suffering a stroke.
“A dreamer as sensitive as he was funny”
Mike Wolfe, Fritz’s former co-host on the popular History Channel show, announced the news on Instagram on Tuesday, writing: “It’s with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night.
“I’ve known 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. The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.
“Who would have ever dreamed we would share the cockpit of a white cargo van in front of millions of people interested in our adventures.
“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 and 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 you’re in a better place”.
“A fierce friend”
Per the Associated Press, Fritz’s friend Annette Oberlander has revealed that he passed away at a hospice facility in Davenport, Iowa, having failed to fully recover from his stroke.
“He was a fierce friend,” Oberlander said. “He leaves behind an incredible amount of friendships because that’s what was most important to him. A very large amount of friendships. Close friendships.”
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Fritz hit by stroke in mid-2022
Fritz co-hosted American Pickers for a decade, starring alongside Wolfe as the pair criss-crossed the United States in search of undiscovered valuable antiques. “The show follows the team as they scour the country for hidden gems in junkyards, basements, garages and barns, meeting quirky characters and hearing their amazing stories,” the series’ official synopsis reads.
Having appeared in his final American Pickers episode in March 2020, Fritz had a stroke in summer 2022, with Wolfe revealing the news on social media.
In the wake of his stroke, Fritz had to move into an “assisted living facility”, a source told the US Sun in early 2024, and he was placed under an emergency conservatorship. In July, the media outlet quoted court documents relating to the conservatorship as saying he was reliant on “long-term skilled nursing care”.
Stroke follows years of health issues
Fritz’s stroke came on the back of several other health issues. He battled Crohn’s disease for many years, and struggled with alcoholism. His departure from American Pickers came as he recuperated from an operation to cure back trouble - although Fritz told a 2021 interview with the US Sun that he had only taken a temporary step away from the series to complete his recovery.
“I didn’t leave the show,” he insisted. “I finished shooting and then I had a little back surgery and the pandemic came.”
Later in 2021, however, American Pickers confirmed that Fritz wouldn’t be returning. In a social-media message, Wolfe described Fritz as “like a brother to me”, adding: “I will miss Frank, just like all of you, and I pray for the very best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey.”
After Fritz’s departure from American Pickers, there was regular speculation of a rift between the pair, whose relationship stretched back to before their time together on the show. Fritz himself fanned the flames of such rumours with some of his public statements, but Wolfe denied talk of a falling-out in early 2023.
“Frank and I are friends,” he said in a TikTok video. “He was just at my brother’s graduation for his kids, right before he had his stroke. If anybody’s thinking about Frank they should be praying for him.”
In May 2023, a source close to Fritz and Wolfe told the Quad-City Times that their relationship had become “strained” while working on American Pickers, but said talk of a feud was wide of the mark.
After a period without seeing each other, the insider added, Fritz had been feeling well enough to meet up with Wolfe that Memorial Day Weekend. It was described as a reunion where there were “tears flowing on both sides”. “They needed separation to appreciate each other,” the source said.