Frank Fritz of 'American Pickers': the tragedy of his last years

TV legend from 'American Pickers'

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

For more than 10 years (a total of 21 seasons), Frank Fritz was on TV presenting the show 'American Pickers'. Then, in 2022, the news came that he would probably never return. It was a step towards the end of the public's favorite.

Frank Fritz, 1964-2023

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

Frank Fritz was a charismatic Illinois antique store owner who began letting cameras into his business in 2010 with 'American Pickers.' He would be active in the History Channel show and its spinoff until 2020, when several health problems began bothering him. A few years later, in September 2024, at age 60, the TV star would pass away.

Frank and Mike

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

Fritz ran the show together with Mike Wolfe, another antiquarian. The duo would travel around the United States, especially to parts of the 'rustic' locations where few others had gone, to look for hidden gems that they could restore and resell at a profit. As such, their History Channel series taught us about history, about their country, and about their jobs.

Picture: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

Their famous white van

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

"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," Wolfe would later say about the show and his partnership with Fritz.

Picture: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

When Frank left 'American Pickers'

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

After 10 years at the show, Fritz was a multimillionaire. His net worth was estimated at 6 million. However, money cannot always buy good health. In 2020, the TV star was forced to leave due to medical and substance issues.

Picture: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

Everything started with back problems

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

In March 2020, the TV host had to take a break to recover from a back surgery that required almost 200 stitches and two plates on his spine. During that recovery time, Frank Fritz lost almost 30 kilos (66 pounds).

Rehab

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

The recovery process encouraged him to make another important step on his health journey: rehab. According to The Sun, the famous host spent 77 days in a rehab facility in Iowa to overcome his dependency on alc0h0l.

He tried to go back to the show

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

After his time in rehab, Frank Fritz kept going to clinic sessions two times a week. However, things went wrong when he tried to get back to 'American Pickers'.

Goodbye 'American Pickers'

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

In 2021, his buddy Mike Wolfe revealed via Instagram that Frank Fritz had been fired from the show. "He's been like a brother to me. The journey that Frank, Dani (Danielle), and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding," Wolfe stated.

Picture: mikewolfeamericanpicker / Instagram

Fired

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

Wolfe's message was intentionally vague, but he did say that he prayed "for the very best and all good things for [Frank] on the next part of his journey." And, just like the fans, he added, "I will miss him."

Picture: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

Further downhill: a stroke

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

Things went downhill for Frank Fritz. Still in his 50s, the TV star first had to deal with the consequences of his operation and substance problems, and then he had a serious stroke. It was reported in July 2022, that Fritz had been in bed for several days, fighting between life and death, after his stroke.

Picture: mikewolfeamericanpicker / Instagram

In a wheelchair

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

Impaired by the stroke, Frank Fritz disappeared from the limelight. Roughly a year after his accident, friends of the star posted pictures of their get-togethers, showing Fritz attending the events in a wheelchair.

Image: Waldo Ewoldt / Facebook

Happy with friends, but...

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

According to the administrator of the Facebook group for Frank's friends, the evening they spent together was 'priceless.' Yet, it was clear to see that Frank Fritz was not the same man he used to be.

Image: Oliver Starr / Facebook

Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

His partner in the History Channel show, Mike Wolfe, confirmed the hard news through his Instagram. Several media outlets had suggested that the relationship between Mike and Frank had not been good in the previous couple of years.

Picture: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

Kept private

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

In a statement, Mike Wolfe explained the nature of their estranged relationship: "I have been very private in the past year in regards to Frank's life and the journey he's been on. There have been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank's friendship and the show, but now is not the time to set the record straight."

Picture: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

Frank, a shadow if his previous self

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

After the stroke, Frank Fritz could no longer take care of himself.  The Sun revealed that one of his friends had requested to become the conservator of the star, declaring that Fritz was unable to "care for his own safety, or to provide for necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, or medical care without which physical injury or illness may occur."

Unable to eat, talk or make decisions

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

As The Sun read in the documents of the conservatorship case, Fritz was an entirely dependent person. His friend took care of his healthcare and financial administration to avoid "immediate harm to him." As The Sun quoted, Fritz was "so impaired that he is unable to make, communicate, or carry out important decisions concerning his own financial affairs."

Picture: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

Taking care of his millions and his store

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

The guardianship of Fritz meant managing the 6 million the TV host owned in 2022, according to Celebrity Net Worth. A financing entity handled his fortune. Among the businesses that needed to be managed was the star's famous shop in Illinois: 'Frank Fritz Finds'.

Died on September 30, 2023

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

The disabled former TV star would live for about one more year. Then his body gave up. On September 30, 2023, Frank Fritz died from the consequences of his stroke and the effects of Crohn's disease.

Mike Wolfe was by his side

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

His colleague and childhood friend, Mike, wrote a sorrowful statement on Instagram: "It is with a broken heart that I share with you all that Frank passed away... 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."

'Frank was a dreamer'

TV legend from 'American Pickers', Frank Fritz, 1964-2023, Frank and Mike, Their famous white van, When Frank left 'American Pickers', Everything started with back problems, He tried to go back to the show, Goodbye 'American Pickers', Further downhill: a stroke, In a wheelchair, Happy with friends, but..., Had there been any bad blood between Frank and Mike?, Kept private, Frank, a shadow if his previous self, Unable to eat, talk or make decisions, Taking care of his millions and his store, Died on September 30, 2023, Mike Wolfe was by his side, 'Frank was a dreamer'

"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. The same off-camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself," Wolfe wrote.

Image: 'American Pickers' / Facebook

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