Fans are devastated at the news that Frank Fritz, the antiques expert who gained fame on the reality series American Pickers, has died at 60.
Fritz, who left the series in 2021, had been suffering from health problems and was hospitalized from a stroke two years ago.
The news was announced by Fritz’s friend and co-star Mike Wolfe, who said that Fritz passed away last night.
“I’ve know 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,” Wolfe wrote in a social media tribute. “The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.”
Fritz and Wolfe gained fame as the hosts of the reality TV series American Pickers, which premiered on the History Channel in 2010. The series showed the two “pickers” traveling across the USA, searching for valuable antiques and collectibles in unexpected places.
“We’re looking for amazing things buried in people’s garages and barns,” the show’s opening narration explains. “What most people see as junk, we see as dollar signs. We’ll buy anything we think we can make a buck on.”
“We make a living telling the history of America… one piece at a time.”
The series attracted millions of viewers, becoming one of History Channel’s most popular programs. In its debut year it was the #1 non-fiction series among total viewers and adults 25-54.
While the antiques were often interesting, there’s no doubt it was the chemistry and charisma of the two hosts that kept viewers coming back for more.
In 2021, it was announced that Fritz would be leaving American Pickers after a decade on the hit series. Fritz said the decision was not his own, and that he was pushed out by the network after a back surgery.
“I didn’t leave the show,” he told The Sun at the time. “I finished shooting and then I had a little back surgery and the pandemic came.”
He also suggested that his co-host’s ego was a factor, saying the show had “tilted towards him 1,000 percent.” “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years,” Fritz said. “He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is.”
In July 2022, Fritz was hospitalized from a stroke. In 2023, he had a tearful reunion with Mike Wolfe, and the two resolved their purported feud. However, Fritz declined an offer to rejoin American Pickers, deciding to focus on his health.
It’s clear that the two former co-hosts have remained friendly since then, and it seems Wolfe was by his side til the end.
“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,” Wolfe wrote on Instagram. “I love you buddy and will miss you so much I know [you’re] in a better place.”
American Pickers remains a staple of the History Channel lineup. Fritz has never officially been replaced as co-host, though series regulars like Danielle Colby, Mike Wolfe’s brother Robbie, and friend and antiques expert “Jersey Jon” Szalay will rotate accompanying Wolfe on his antiquing trips.
Colby also shared her own tribute to Fritz on social media. “Frank, I will miss your ability to make everyone laugh, your love for talking tattoos, your epic collections but what I will miss the most are those little glimpses of vulnerability from time to time,” she wrote.
“Frank, you loved your cat and your momma and we bonded on those things. You will be missed for all of these reasons and so many more.
Rest in Peace Road Dog.”
Rest in peace to the iconic reality TV star Frank Fritz 😢🙏 Please share this story in his memory.
SОFIА VЕRGАRА АND JОЕ MАNGАNIЕLLО MАKЕ НЕАRТВRЕАKING АNNОUNСЕMЕNТ
Former Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is presently in Italy to celebrate her 51st birthday, and while there, she has been open and honest about the difficulties of aging.
Sofia Vergara celebrated her 51st birthday with her “best friends” in Italy, and while there she shаrеd a photo to Instagram that included the water as a backdrop and her makeup-free, picture-perfect face as the caption.
The former CoverGirl posted a series of Instagram photos during her birthday trip to Italy.
She lights firecrackers as candles, goes out to brunch with friends, and then gets serenaded at an exclusive restaurant to celebrate her birthday.
Her supporters were disappointed that her husband, Joe Manganiello, was noticeably absent from the celebrations.
But now reliable sources confirm what we suspected all along…
If you want to know what happened, keep reading down below.
Page Six has learned exclusively that Sofia Vergara and husband Joe Manganiello are splitting after seven years of marriage.
The couple told Page Six in a statement: “We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.”
The “Modern Family” beauty is currently celebrating her 51st birthday in Italy with a posse of friends — but with no Manganiello or her wedding ring.
A source added: “Sofía and Joe have been growing apart for a while now and are taking some distance from each other to contemplate their future.”
Vergara paid Manganiello, 46, a visit on the set of his new film “Nonnas” starring Vince Vaughn last month in Hoboken, New Jersey.
The judge from NBC’s famous show “America’s Got Talent,” Vergara, is currently in Capri with her closest girlfriends and uploading sensual photographs on Instagram.
Fans on Instagram have noted Manganiello’s absence, and Sofia Vergara addressed it in an Instagram post with the caption, “When life gives u lemons u come to Italy to squeeze them.”
One wrote, “Is anyone else wondering where’s Joe?” while another said, “Wondering where her husband is, he hasn’t shown up in any of the photos of videos.”
Similarly controversial was an Instagram post by Manganiello wishing his wife a happy birthday with the simple message “!!Feliz Cumpleaos Sofa!!!” In Spanish: Feliz Cumpleaos a Sofia!
Another source told us: “At the start of Sofia’s big birthday trip those close to her were explaining away Joe’s absence with the excuse that he was busy filming back on the East Coast; that excuse barely held up due to the writers strike, but once the actor’s strike took effect, he could have been on the first flight… and he quite clearly is not.
“So now no one out there with her is even attempting to pretend that it’s not over. It’s over. It’s done.”
Vergara’s “Modern Family” co-stars Ariel Winter, Ed O’Neill, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, and Ty Burrell were in attendance, as were Manganiello’s “True Blood” co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer. The wedding took place in Palm Beach, Florida, in November 2015.
Channing Tatum and Reese Witherspoon were also there.
Vergara, who has a son named Manolo, 31, with her first husband Joe Gonzalez, met Manganiello at a White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in 2014, when she was engaged to businessman Nick Loeb, through the actress’ former co-star Ferguson.
When the actress’s relationship with Loeb ended, Manganiello immediately texted her for her number.
Star of “Magic Mike XXL” said in 2020 issue of People magazine, “I knew fairly soon that I could trust her, and she knew pretty quickly that she could trust me. We are both selfless individuals who are able to prioritize the needs of our partner above our own.
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