‘American Pickers’ Will Pay Tribute to the Late Star in Upcoming Season
American Pickers stars and fans have been grieving for the former host Frank Fritz, who died on September 30, 2024, at 60. Mike Wolfe, a lifetime friend of Fritz, has opened up about his grief in a conversation with The U.S. Sun, six months after Fritz’s tragic passing. Wolfe also shared what he and the cast and crew of American Pickers will do to honor his friend in the upcoming season of the show.
Wolfe spoke to The U.S. Sun on the red carpet for his movie debut, Day of Reckoning, with his girlfriend, Leticia Cline. During their conversation, he reassures them that American Pickers will not be going anywhere despite his new opportunities, and they are currently filming a season right now until June. However, Wolfe will not return to American Pickers after filming ends until January 2026.
After gushing about the success of the show, the conversation turned to Fritz. “We had the same crew for 13 years,” he said. “Everybody I worked with was very close to Frank. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think of him and talk about him or what he would have done or what he would have enjoyed.” He continued, “I’ve known Frank since I was in eighth grade, and we’re very close to each other. He was the godfather to my nieces, and I was lucky to be there when he passed.”
‘American Pickers’ Will Pay Tribute to the Late Star in Upcoming Season
Fritz and Wolfe co-hosted the show from 2010 to 2020, when Fritz filmed his final scenes. A year later, it was revealed that Fritz exited American Pickers due to health complications, substance abuse struggles, and alleged tensions with Wolfe. In 2022, Fritz suffered from a stroke which led to more health complications, and he sadly passed away in 2024 with Wolfe by his side.
As he continued his conversation with The U.S. Sun, Wolfe began to tear up as he discussed his grief. “It’s hard to talk about still just because it’s new, but sometimes I feel like I’m going to see him,” he said. “I was at the airport last week, and for some reason, somebody walked by, and I feel like I can call him still. It’s hard, but we wouldn’t be where we’re at without Frank. Him and I worked very hard together. All of us did.”
When speaking about the upcoming season of American Pickers, Wolfe confirms that the season will honor Fritz. “Absolutely we do,” he said as The U.S. Sun asked him about American Pickers honoring Fritz, “So we’ve been very blessed.” Wolfe does not reveal how the show will pay tribute to Fritz, so fans will have to wait for the new season to see it.
