“American Pickers” star Frank Fritz dies at age 60, Mike Wolfe leads tributes

Frank Fritz, star of the reality show American pickersHe died on Monday. He was 60 years old.

Deadline reports that a Facebook group was the first to confirm his death. “This is a very difficult announcement because Frank died last night at around 7.30pm. He was surrounded by me. Mike Wolfe returned here at high speed from Nashville and other friends,” the post by Annette Oberlander Willows read in part.

Fritz began co-hosting the History Channel show with Wolfe, his longtime friend, in 2010, but stepped down in 2021. The show ran for 25 seasons.

In 2022, Fritz suffered a stroke. Wolfe broke the news on Instagram. “Frank, I pray more than anything that you get through this well. I love you buddy,” he wrote at the time.

American pickers The focus was on the duo's search for rare objects and antiques throughout the United States. The purchased items were then sold in their own stores.

Wolfe, who continued to host the show after Fritz's health issues, addressed his friend's death on Instagram on Tuesday.

“It is with a broken heart that I share with you all that Frank passed away last night,” Wolfe captioned a photo of the two. “I have known Frank for more than half of my life and what you saw on television was always what I saw: a dreamer who was as sensitive as he was funny. “Frank had the same way of reaching the hearts of so many people off camera as he did on camera, just by being himself,” he continued.

He then recalled his first days picking with Fritz and said he was grateful to have been “by his side as he made a final journey home.”

Bill Stankey, Fritz's manager, made this statement People: “Frank Fritz was an extraordinary person. He loved life, he cared about people, he always had a kind word to say and he knew more about Americana and antiques than anyone I've ever met… He was the anchor of American pickers. He will be missed by his friends, family and fans.”

An official cause of death has not been announced.