Frank Fritz, a beloved member of the duo that traversed the United States in search of antiques and collectibles on the popular reality show “American Pickers,” has passed away. Fritz died Monday night at a hospice facility in Davenport, Iowa. Annette Oberlander, a close and longtime friend, confirmed his age as 60, correcting misinformation from several websites and news sources that reported he was 58.
Oberlander shared that she was by Fritz’s side during his final moments, along with Mike Wolfe, his companion and co-star on the History Channel show for over a decade. Wolfe took to Instagram to express his grief, stating, “The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.”
On “American Pickers,” Fritz and Wolfe would drive to mainly small towns and rural areas, scouring barns and garages for treasures they could resell at an antique shop in Iowa. With a flashlight in hand, they often sifted through dusty and cluttered spaces. Fritz had a particular fondness for antique toys and would engage sellers in friendly banter as they negotiated prices.
Their adventures occasionally led to remarkable discoveries, such as locating a dilapidated van in a Massachusetts forest that had once been used by the band Aerosmith before their rise to stadium-rock fame.
Fritz suffered a stroke in 2022 from which he never fully recovered, according to Oberlander. She mentioned that a celebration of his life, featuring a motorcycle run, is likely to take place in the spring.
Oberlander remembered Fritz as a devoted friend, saying, “He was a fierce friend. He leaves behind an incredible amount of friendships because that’s what was most important to him. A very large amount of friendships. Close friendships.”
