WASHINGTON — Frank Fritz, the former co-host of the antiquing show "American Pickers," has died.
His longtime friend and ex co-host Mike Wolfe revealed Tuesday "with a broken heart" that Fritz died Monday night.
"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. I love you buddy and will miss you so much I know your in a better place," Wolfe wrote Tuesday on social media.
Annette Oberlander, another longtime friend of Fritz's, told the Associated Press that he died at a hospice facility in Davenport, Iowa. She said she was at his bedside, along with Wolfe. She added that Fritz was 60, not 58, as some websites and news sources said.
Wolfe previously revealed in July 2022 that Fritz had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke and asked viewers to pray for his former co-star.
Oberlander told AP on Tuesday that Fritz never fully recovered. The Des Moines Register reported in June 2023 that Fritz had been receiving in-patient care since suffering that debilitating stroke and was placed under a temporary guardianship.
"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 added in his post.
Fritz was for years the co-host of the popular History Channel series. He left the production in March 2020 and officially departed the show between episodes 7 and 8 of the 20th season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Fritz was 60, not 58, according to his friend.