**"American Pickers" Star Frank Fritz Passes Away at 60**

Frank Fritz, beloved star of the History Channel's long-running show "American Pickers," has died at the age of 60. His fellow picker and longtime friend, Mike Wolfe, shared the somber news on social media, revealing that Fritz passed away on Monday night.

"It's with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night," Wolfe wrote in an emotional post. He described Fritz as a "dreamer" with a sensitive side that endeared him to many. Wolfe emphasized that what fans saw on television was genuine, noting, "The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself."

Though Wolfe did not disclose the cause of death, Fritz had suffered a stroke two years prior. Wolfe reminisced about the countless adventures they had together long before their TV fame, driven by a mutual passion for discovery. "Before the show, we would take off together to places we never knew existed," Wolfe remembered.

Fritz was a co-host on "American Pickers" since its debut in 2010. The show followed Fritz and Wolfe as they journeyed across the United States in search of rare and valuable artifacts, either for resale or their personal collections. The History Channel and the show's producers, Cineflix Production, expressed their sorrow in a joint statement: "We are saddened to share that our friend and beloved member of The HISTORY Channel and American Pickers family, Frank Fritz, has passed away on September 30, 2024."

Known as "the bearded charmer," Fritz's enthusiasm for vintage motorcycles and bicycles was a significant part of his legacy. In addition to his TV fame, he owned Frank Fritz Finds, an antique store in Savanna, Illinois. His contributions to the motorcycle community were recognized in 2019 when he was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame.

Fritz's interest in motorcycles began in his youth, eschewing sports for activities like stamp collecting and beer can gathering. His determination led him to work from a young age, allowing him to buy his cherished 1959 Harley-Davidson Sportster during his sophomore year of high school, a possession he still had decades later.

In July 2022, Wolfe revealed that Fritz had suffered a stroke, asking fans for prayers. Despite rumored tensions between the two, a friend recounted their emotional reunion in 2023, during which Wolfe affirmed, "Nobody can replace you, Frank." These sentiments underscored the profound bond the two shared, a relationship built on more than a decade of shared experiences on and off screen.