'American Pickers' star Frank Fritz tragically dies at 60

Tragic news in showbiz: On September 30th, Frank Fritz, one of the hosts of the program 'American Pickers', died. He was 60 years old.

Photo: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

His colleague and childhood friend, Mike Wolf, broke the sad news in a sorrowful statement on Instagram: "It is with a broken heart that I share with you all that Frank passed away last night."

"I've know Frank for more then 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," he wrote.

Frank Fritz died from the consequences of a stroke he had in July 2022, according to TMZ. Added to this was the Crohn's disease he suffered from.

The actor spent his final days in a hospice center in the Quad Cities (on the border between Iowa and Illinois), surrounded by friends, including Mike Wolfe. For the last two years of his life, Frank Fritz needed a wheelchair to get around.

Photo: Waldo Ewoldt / Facebook

"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," said his partner from the 'History Channel' program between 2010 and 2021.

Photo: American Pickers' / Facebook

"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," Mike Wolfe said in farewell.

For 10 years, the History Channel show's 21 seasons were an enormous success.

Photo: American Pickers / Facebook

In the program, Mike and Frank traveled across the United States in search of rare items, antique pieces, national treasures, and other paraphernalia that ordinary Americans had saved in their garages or storage rooms.

Photo: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

The show's presenters were responsible for the success, thanks to their natural behavior and good humor.

Despite Frank Fritz's retirement in 2021, the show continued with Mike Wolfe on his own. It even exceeded 300 episodes. Surely, in a future episode of 'American Pickers,' the hosts will pay tribute to their late companion and friend.

Photo: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

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