Regardless of the very fact a lot was made a couple of feud between American Pickers’ staff and Frank Fritz, Mike Wolfe and Danielle Colby frolicked with the previous actuality star earlier than his demise at 60. The Historical past star handed away practically two years after a stroke had left him underneath the care of a guardianship, however he’d left behind a slew of followers inside the tv group, and he’d reportedly reconnected along with his co-stars earlier than his demise.
Pickers’ organizer and workplace supervisor Danielle Colby was not too long ago requested about lacking Fritz in an interview, and principally harped on his “sharp” humorousness, calling it the “vital piece of his persona” all through his life. It was clear they miss their former co-star.
Boy, we miss Frank. We miss his laughter. We miss his humorousness. I feel his humorousness was crucial piece of his persona that actually stored us collectively and stored issues on the identical thread. And it was, man, that humorousness is sharp. A really, very witty man.
He wasn’t simply humorous, both. From the sounds of issues, Fritz might be very personable and might be very sincere and open with the individuals he liked most in a method Colby calls “weak.” He liked selecting greater than most different issues, and earlier than his demise followers questioned if he would get again into the sport once more.
Sadly, after a stroke in 2022, that was now not attainable. But it surely’s price mentioning the fact star left behind some sturdy recollections and impressions. Colby informed Newsweek extra about what the toughest half about now not having Frank round has been, noting,
I miss these uncommon moments the place he was emotionally weak and would give me a hug or, you already know, name up and ask questions, or ask for recommendation. I miss these moments when he was in a position to type of like attain out very personally.
Fritz handed away in October of 2024, which implies we’re approaching the one-year anniversary of his passing. It is a “large loss” for these he made an affect on.
Big loss. Big loss for the group right here within the Quad Cities. Big loss the world. Big, large loss for us.
Earlier this 12 months, Mike Wolfe additionally mirrored on his longtime co-star’s demise, noting it had been a tough few months for himself and his work household, and writing that he was attempting to maintain up the great vibes.
This previous 12 months has introduced loss and a few coronary heart ache however it additionally has stunning moments with my daughter and household. The initiatives that I’ve thrown myself into have impressed me to do extra.
Time passes shortly. It is laborious to imagine it is already been practically a 12 months since Frank Fritz left us. It has been 4 years because the actuality star was fired from American Pickers (although not by his personal selection), and a brand new amalgamation of the present on Historical past was born. Life is sophisticated, however it’s clear from Colby and co.’s feedback that the previous actuality star left an indelible mark on them, each from a private {and professional} standpoint.