According to his death certificate, Fritz died from “late sequela of cerebral infarction,” which suggests he had a stroke. The outlet stated that cerebral vascular disease caused the stroke.
Fritz also had aortic stenosis, a chronic condition that hinders blood flow throughout the body. Both aortic stenosis and cerebral vascular disease contributed to his death.
Fritz’s former co-host and friend Mike Wolfe announced Fritz’s death on Instagram on Tuesday, Oct. 1, stating that he died on Monday, Sept. 30, at the age of 60.
“I’ve known Frank for more than half my life, and what you’ve seen on TV has always been what I’ve seen—a dreamer who was as sensitive as he was funny,” Wolfe said in a post accompanying a photo of the two. “Frank had a way of touching so many people’s hearts simply by being himself, both on and off camera. Who would have thought we’d be sharing the cockpit of a white cargo truck in front of millions of people eager to hear about our adventures?”
Wolfe featured alongside Fritz on American Pickers, where they went throughout the country looking for hidden gems in barns, garages, and junkyards until Fritz’s final episode aired in March 2020. Entertainment Weekly officially confirmed Fritz’s departure from the program in July 2021.
While Fritz and Wolfe’s friendship was difficult at times, as Fritz disclosed to The Sun in 2021, the two reunited, with Wolfe revealing on Instagram in 2022 that his buddy had suffered a stroke.
Wolfe continued to remember their happy moments in an Instagram post on October 1.
“Before the show, we would take off together to places we never knew existed with no destination in mind and just the shared passion to discover something interesting and historic,” he recalled. “We’ve gone on numerous excursions and traveled thousands of miles together, and I consider myself fortunate to have been at his side as he made his final journey home. I love you, buddy, and I will miss you terribly. I know you’re in a better place.”
Fritz’s manager, Bill Stankey, also told PEOPLE on October 1 that the reality star is an “exceptional human being.”
“He loved life, he cared about people, he always had a kind word to say, and he knew more about Americana and antiques than anyone I ever met,” Stankey told me. “He was the anchor for American Pickers. His friends, family, and supporters will miss him.