American Pickers star Mike Wolfe has reminisced about his time spent with late former co-star Frank Fritz, just over a month after his death.
Fritz starred alongside Wolfe and Danielle Colby in the popular reality show, which follows the team as they scour the country for forgotten gems in junkyards, basements and garages before recycling and renovating them—all while meeting quirky characters along the way. He appeared on the program from 2010 to 2020.
Per reports, Fritz died on September 30 from the complications of a stroke while in hospice care. He was 60. His health took a significant hit in 2022 after he had a stroke that left him in a wheelchair. He also had Crohn's disease—a chronic inflammatory bowel condition that affects the lining of the digestive tract—for several decades.
On Monday morning, Wolfe took to Instagram to share a photo of an expansive deck with rocking chairs as he wrote about returning to work on American Pickers, and the early days of putting the show together with Fritz.
"Morning porch vibes from the great state of Tennessee," Wolfe started the caption. "Enjoying some much needed down time before we start shooting a new season of @americanpickers."
"It was 2004 when I picked up a camera and started filming Frank and my Two Lane adventures," he continued. "Now almost 500 episodes in My heart is humbled and grateful that you all still tune in to see America and its great people thru our lens.
"Just like yours, the family that we have created has been thru so much together. Beauty and some sadness around our table. But we remain focused on sharing History and how it connects us all."
Fritz and Wolfe previously had a public falling out, after Fritz took a break from American Pickers to spend time recovering from back surgery.
When the show returned in January 2021, Fritz was still not on the show, with Wolfe later saying in a statement that Fritz would not be returning to the series.
"I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he's been like a brother to me," he said in a statement at the time. "The journey that Frank, Dani and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding."
He added: "I will miss Frank, just like all of you, and I pray for the very best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey."
Later speaking to The Sun, Fritz said of Wolfe: "Mike's statement was bulls***. Somebody wrote it out for him. I don't believe in 10 years he's said five nice things to me, you know? Unless he was cutting somebody else down and we were both laughing."
According to various reports, in May 2023, the former co-stars eventually repaired their relationship.
Shortly after Fritz's death, Wolfe's girlfriend, Leticia Cline, set the record straight on rumors her partner hadn't supported his late co-star in the years after his stroke.
"For the past 3 years I have been a witness to how Mike has done everything possible to make sure Frank has had the best care," she wrote in an Instagram Story post.
"It's been hard to be silent while rumors spread untruths and foster hate but instead of wasting energy defending himself, he's spent that time on phone calls and in person with Frank and his caregivers including being by his side as he took his last breath last night.
"I never got to meet Frank but have been able to know him through the countless stories Mike has told me about their adventures together before and after the show. I'm so proud of the grace and resilience Mike has had during these years and how he has never let it come between the bond of friendship. Frank will be missed by so many."
English (US) ·