American Pickers’ Frank Fritz may have made peace with Mike Wolfe before he died, but his existence those last few months was grim and he went to his grave with a broken heart. Fans are holding a grudge and blaming the show and others for Frank’s untimely demise, a source exclusively tells In Touch.
“Frank was never the same after getting bumped from the show and unfortunately, around the same time, he had a bitter end to his engagement [to Diann Bankson],” the source says. “There was turmoil in his life and the feeling among his devoted fans is the show exploited him, they used him and spit him out, and they’re mad at his ex-fiancée, too.”
Frank, 60, and Mike, 60, began costarring on the popular History Channel series in 2010, traveling the country searching for rare collectibles or unusual items they could resell. Frank stopped appearing on the show in 2021 amid health issues and a falling out with Mike.
“It’s tragic what happened to Frank. He suffered so much and kept on being so brave, but it was clear he was never going to be the same. He struggled to walk and would probably have been forced to use a wheelchair the rest of his life, which he didn’t want,” the source shares.
Frank underwent back surgery that led to having two rods placed in his spine. He then experienced a stroke in 2022. The Davenport, Iowa, native died on September 30 at the age of 60.
His cause of death was listed as a “late sequela of cerebral infarction,” the medical term for a stroke, which was the result of cerebral vascular disease, TMZ reported on October 11 after obtaining Frank’s death certificate.
Other contributing factors to his death included aortic stenosis, a chronic condition that makes it difficult for blood to flow from the heart to the rest of the body, and COPD, a common lung disease which makes breathing difficult.
Mike announced Frank’s death in a moving Instagram tribute on October 1.
“It’s with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night,” Mike began, along with a photo of the duo smiling in happier times.
“I’ve known Frank for more than half my life and what you’ve seen on TV has always been what I have seen, a dreamer who was just as sensitive as he was funny. The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself,” he continued.
Mike went on to describe how unlikely it was that two friends in a white cargo van would end up showing off their “shared passion to discover something interesting and historic” to millions of TV viewers.
“We’ve been on countless trips and shared so many miles and I feel blessed that I was there by his side when he took one last journey home. I love you buddy and will miss you so much I know your [sic] in a better place,” the American Pickers star concluded.
“The only good thing is that Frank forgave Mike after years of bad blood and they were talking again, and it’s nice that Mike was there when Frank passed,” the insider explained. “But fans think others were insincere in their condolences and never lifted a finger to help Frank when he needed them most and they’re not likely to forget it.”
