Frank Fritz, who drove across the U.S. searching for antiques and collectibles to purchase and resell on the truth present “American Pickers,” has died.
He died Monday night time at a hospice facility in Davenport, Iowa, stated Annette Oberlander, a longtime good friend. She stated he was 60, not 58, as some web sites and information sources stated.
She stated she was at his bedside, as was Mike Wolfe, who starred with Fritz for greater than a decade on the Historical past Channel program. A mixture of “Antiques Roadshow” and “Hoarders,” the present follows the buddies as they crisscross the nation trying to find a chunk of historical past.Â
“The identical off digital camera as he was on, Frank had a means of reaching the hearts of so many by simply being himself,” Wolfe stated an Instagram publish mourning the lack of his good friend.Â
“We’re saddened to share that our good friend and beloved member of The HISTORY Channel and American Pickers household, Frank Fritz, has handed away on September 30, 2024,” the “American Pickers” present wrote on its social media account. Â
The pair drove some 70,000 miles a yr trying to find items that captured their consideration.Â
“If you stroll into an vintage store, likelihood is 95% of the time, that seller just isn’t shopping for all of that stuff,” Wolfe advised CBS Sunday Morning in a 2020 interview.
Fritz labored for the present for over a decade, the present stated, describing him as a “bearded charmer” on a endless seek for classic bikes and bikes.Â
“Our ideas are with Frank’s family members throughout this troublesome time. He might be deeply missed,” the publish stated.Â
Oberlander, his good friend, stated Fritz had a stroke in 2022 and by no means absolutely recovered. She stated a celebration of life, which can embrace a motorbike run, will seemingly occur within the spring.
“He was a fierce good friend,” Oberlander stated. “He leaves behind an unbelievable quantity of friendships as a result of that is what was most vital to him. A really great amount of friendships. Shut friendships.”