The late Frank Fritz dedicated his life to "picking" through piles of dusty Americana in search of one-of-a-kind treasures. As fans mourn the loss of the reality TV star, we're taking a look back at his final on-screen "pick."
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00:00The late Frank Fritz dedicated his life to picking through piles of dusty Americana in
00:05search of one-of-a-kind treasures.
00:07As fans mourn the loss of the reality TV star, we're taking a look back at his final on-screen
00:13pick.
00:14Frank Fritz, former co-host of History Channel's American Pickers, died on September 30, 2024,
00:20at age 60.
00:22His co-star Mike Wolfe confirmed the news on Instagram, paying tribute to his friend
00:26but not disclosing the cause of his death.
00:29Fritz was hospitalized following a stroke in 2022 and dealt with several health issues
00:34in his final years, including alcoholism, back surgery, and Crohn's disease.
00:39The Pickers had a falling out after Fritz left the show in 2020.
00:43In 2021, Fritz told The Sun that he hadn't talked to Wolfe in two years, but the pair
00:48reportedly healed their rift in 2023.
00:51American Pickers debuted in 2010 and followed Wolfe and Fritz as they traveled from one
00:56small town or rural property to the next in search of rusty gold.
01:01Fritz's final episode was Burlesque Queen, which aired on March 2, 2020.
01:06The last item Fritz picked was right in his wheelhouse, and in true Frank fashion, he
01:10bundled it with another pick.
01:12Jim, the seller, was a seriously tough negotiator, constantly telling the Pickers to put items
01:17back if they don't want to come up to his number.
01:21"...1,300."
01:22"...You're about halfway there."
01:26Fritz gets stern himself to match the seller's style, and at times, he seems almost angry.
01:31"...700.
01:32C'mon, now you got a good stuff cleared out of here."
01:36"...I know that."
01:37That's when the bundle comes into play.
01:39Fritz first bundles an old Phillips 66 sign with a small classic Kawasaki motorcycle for
01:45$2,000.
01:46It almost seems like that's the end of Fritz's picking for the day, and for the series.
01:51"...Sold."
01:52"...Sold?"
01:53"...That's a good deal, Jim."
01:54"...You got a good deal."
01:55He doesn't buy much in the episode, but he negotiates for one more sign that displays
01:59the old Mercury Outboard motor logo.
02:02The seller doesn't want to sell for Fritz's price, so he bundles an old grandfather clock
02:06with it as well.
02:08Neither seems happy when the deal is done, but Fritz forks over $750 for the two items.
02:14Not the most exciting pick, perhaps, but it will go down in Pickers history as Frank's
02:18last.
02:19In his Instagram post, Wolf wrote that Fritz wasn't putting on a persona for Pickers.
02:24Wolf's posted, in part,
02:25"...I've known Frank for more than half my life, and what you've seen on TV has always
02:30been what I have seen — a dreamer who was just as sensitive as he was funny."
02:34The same off-camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by
02:39just being himself.
02:41After reuniting in 2023, a friend told The Quad City Times that Wolf cited Fritz's uniquely
02:46funny personality as crucial to making the Pickers formula so successful.
02:51"...It's getting dark, I've been bit by mosquitoes all day long, this is it."
02:57That same friend told the newspaper that the two Pickers ultimately, quote, "...needed
03:02separation to appreciate each other."
03:04Wolf closed his Instagram post by reflecting on just how close they were in their decade
03:08on Pickers, adding,
03:10"...We've been on countless trips and shared so many miles and I feel blessed that I was
03:14there by his side when he took one last journey home.
03:17I love you buddy and will miss you so much.
03:20I know you're in a better place."