Frank Fritz, a prominent figure from the original “American Pickers” series, has passed away. He died peacefully on Monday evening in Davenport, surrounded by friends, including his co-star Mike Wolfe, who traveled from Tennessee to be by his side.
Fritz had been recovering from a stroke he suffered in July 2022, and although he had been engaged in therapy and rehabilitation, he faced several challenges during his recovery.
Mike Wolfe expressed his condolences in an Instagram post, saying, “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. He was the same off-camera as he was on; Frank had a remarkable way of touching people’s hearts by just being himself.”
Born in Davenport, Fritz was active in the Quad Cities area and owned a shop named “Frank Fritz Finds” in Savanna, Illinois. “American Pickers” premiered on the History Channel in 2010, featuring Fritz and Wolfe as they explored old barns in search of collectibles and unique items.
The duo operates three stores to display their finds, with their main hub located in LeClaire, Iowa.