American Pickers stars Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe found their way back to each other during Frank’s final days, and in a new interview, Mike emotionally shared that he was by Frank’s side when his friend took his last breath.
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“I got the call that he wasn’t doing well,” he told People. “I just feel blessed that I was able to get there; I was there for about an hour before he passed. And I was holding his hand and rubbing his chest when he took his last breath. I took my fingers, and I closed his eyes.”
Frank and Mike’s story began in middle school. When they met, they became immediate friends and bonded over their shared struggles of growing up without fathers. Mike grew to admire Frank’s steadfast resilience while they moved “through life.”
“He was one of those guys, no matter who we talked to, he could always make people feel comfortable and let them know that they’re being heard,” Mike shared before noting that Frank “was an extremely hard worker” who owned his first home by the time he was 19.
“He was like no one I’d ever met in my whole life,” he remembered.
When Mike Wolfe Envisioned “American Pickers,” Frank Fritz Was His Biggest Supporter
When Mike Wolfe first envisioned American Pickers, Frank Fritz was “the only person who didn’t make fun of [him]. Mike fought for years to get his series on television. And while others scoffed, Frank offered unwavering support. When Mike finally got his big break, Frank was right by his side. Then, for 11 years, the two traveled the country searching for dusty treasures on The History Channel.
But in 2021, Frank disappeared from the screen. In an interview with The Sun, he admitted that he had gone into treatment for alcoholism. He also shared that, due to the circumstances, he and Mike had a falling out. Fans and the media made their assumptions. The results were devastating.
“This is so hard for me to talk about because there were a lot of things that were said that weren’t true. And I always continued to pray for him. But unfortunately, the things that we want for someone… sometimes [it’s] just not enough, and they have to want these things for themselves,” he told People.
The former best friends backed away from each other, but Mike “never stepped away from him completely.” Fortunately, they had a tearful reunion and forgave each other. Shortly after, Frank suffered a serious stroke. Complications ultimately took his life. Frank Fritz died on September 30, 2024. He was 60.
Mike Wolfe was able to make it to Frank Fritz’s bedside, and he stayed with him until he passed.
“I just told him that I wasn’t mad at him and that I loved him and that I cared about him so much,” he recalled. “And then when I could see that he was struggling, I just said, ‘Just go find your mom. Go find her right now. Just go find her.'”
This story’s featured image is by Debby Wong via Shutterstock.
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