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Why did Frank Fritz leave American Pickers? Former star dies at 60

Why did Frank Fritz leave American Pickers? Former star dies at 60
Posted on | Posted on angela

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For more than a decade on the History Channel's “American Pickers,” Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz crawled through barns, attics and basements, leading viewers in search of rusty gold.

In July 2021, according to USA TODAY, Wolfe confirmed on Instagram that Fritz — who died Monday at age 60, two years after suffering a stroke — would no longer appear on the show, writing that he would “miss” Frank.

So why did he leave? Here's what you should know.

Why did Frank Fritz leave American Pickers?

In his 2021 message, Wolfe described the couple's close relationship, USA TODAY reported. However, Fritz told The Sun in July 2021 that the two had an argument.

“I haven’t spoken to Mike in two years,” Fritz told the publication.

Fritz said he finished filming last season and then took time off for back surgery. And then the pandemic came. Fritz said Wolfe “knew my back was bad, but he didn’t call me and ask how I was doing. It just is.”

While Fritz didn't tell The Sun why the feud started, he claimed there was tension over the couple's share of the spotlight.

“The show is 1,000 percent focused on him,” Fritz told the publication. “I can’t even bend down enough to show you how much.

“That's fine. It's like you have Aerosmith and there's Steven Tyler and he's the frontman. I found my place, I'm second and he's number one on the show. That's not a problem for me, maybe he has a problem.”

Wolfe says Fritz's struggles with addiction kept him away from the show

In a follow-up story in August, The Sun spoke to Wolfe, who said he wanted him back on the show. “I would like to talk to him again,” Wolfe told the publication.

“Frank has a lot of addiction issues personally,” Wolfe said. “It’s unfortunate that he made decisions that make him the way he is.”

Fritz was in rehab in Iowa for some of his time away from the show, he previously told The Sun.

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