I’m deeply saddened to share the tragic passing of Frank Fritz, the beloved co-star of the hit History Channel series “American Pickers.” In an exclusive interview with, Fritz’s longtime friend and co-host, Mike Wolfe, opens up about the emotional final moments they shared before Fritz’s death.
Wolfe, 60, revealed that he was by Fritz’s side when he took his last breath on September 30th, 2023, at the age of 60. “I got the call that he wasn’t doing well. I just feel blessed that I was able to get there,” Wolfe said. “I was there for about an hour before he passed, and I was holding his hand and rubbing his chest when he took his last breath. I took my fingers, and I closed his eyes.”
The two had been close friends since middle school, bonding over their shared experiences of growing up without fathers. Together, they co-created the hit show “American Pickers,” which followed their adventures scouring backroads and small-town Main Streets for valuable antiques and hidden treasures.
He acted as if he were on camera. He was very sensitive. He was very caring. He was extremely funny. His sense of comedic timing was unbelievable,” Wolfe fondly recalled. “Actually, the crew and myself would always tell him that he should do stand-up because he was always very self-deprecating.”
However, Fritz revealed in a 2021 interview that he and Wolfe had not spoken for two years, marking a rough patch in their friendship. Wolfe admitted that the public feud was “a lot of noise” and that he continued to pray for his friend, even as Fritz struggled with addiction and health issues.
The combination of his time off and his surgery created an ideal situation. He became addicted to opioids, and that’s when everything changed,” Wolfe explained. Despite his efforts to help Fritz, including staging an intervention, the addiction ultimately proved too much to overcome.
In the final chapter of their friendship, Wolfe and Fritz were able to reconcile and reconnect, finding solace in each other’s company. “It was beautiful. He was struggling with addiction. I know how judgmental the public can be. And so that’s why when we did end up speaking again, it was so easy for me to forgive him because I knew it wasn’t him talking. It was his addiction talking,” Wolfe said.
As Fritz continued to battle his health challenges, including a devastating stroke in 2022, Wolfe remained a steadfast friend, visiting him numerous times and sharing heartfelt conversations. “Once he had the stroke and he went into a facility, I saw him so many times, and I was able to speak to him very candidly and very lovingly about everything that I ever wanted to say to him,” Wolfe recalled.
In those final moments, Wolfe held Fritz’s hand and told him, “I just told him that I wasn’t upset at him and that I loved him and that I cared about him so much. When I saw that he was struggling, I simply told him to go find his mom. Go find her right now. Just go find her.'”
The loss of Fritz is undoubtedly a profound one for Wolfe and the entire “American Pickers” family. In their grief, they find comfort in Fritz’s legacy of joy and laughter on the show and among its fans. “To be honest with you, who knows what our lives would’ve been like if there was never a show?” Wolfe said. “I just want people to know who he was.”
As the entertainment world mourns the passing of this beloved star, Frank Fritz’s spirit will live on through the countless memories he created and the lives he touched. And in the end, his closest friend was there to ensure he found his way home.