Frank Fritz, who appeared on the reality show “American Pickers” and drove around the United States searching for antiques and collectibles to buy and resell, has died.
He died Monday night at a hospice facility in Davenport, Iowa, said longtime friend Annette Oberlander. She said he is 60 years old, not 58 as some websites and news sources say.
She said she was at his bedside. So did Mike Wolfe, who played with Fritz for more than a decade. on the History Channel show. A combination of “Antiques Roadshow” and “Hoarders,” the show follows friends as they travel across the country in search of pieces of history.
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“Off-camera, Frank had a way of reaching so many people with his authentic self,” Wolf said in an Instagram post mourning his friend’s death.
“We regret to announce the passing of our friend and beloved member of the History Channel and American Pickers family, Frank Fritz, on September 30, 2024,” the “American Pickers” show wrote on its social media accounts. ”.
The pair drove about 70,000 miles a year searching for items that caught their attention.
“When you go into an antique store, 95 percent of the time, the dealer isn’t buying all that stuff,” Wolf said. He said this in a 2020 interview with CBS Sunday Morning.
According to the show, Fritz had worked for the show for more than 10 years and was described as a “bearded, charming guy” with a never-ending quest for vintage bikes and motorbikes.
“Our thoughts are with Frank’s loved ones during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed,” the post said.
Fritz suffered a stroke in 2022 and never fully recovered, his friend Oberlander said. She said a celebration of life, including a bike ride, will likely be held in the spring.
“He was a devoted friend,” Oberlander said. “He left behind an incredible number of friendships, because that was the most important thing to him. So many friendships. Close friendships.”