Frank Fritz of American Pickers died last September at the age of 60. While his death saddened fans and the reality TV community, the cause was only recently confirmed through his death certificate. It revealed a difficult journey of declining health that left him as a wheelchair user and dependent.
Two years before his demise, Frank was placed under conservatorship as his physical condition worsened. The beloved TV personality faced debilitating health struggles and financial decline since then, forcing him to step away from the American Pickers show.
What was the cause of Frank Fritz’s death, according to his death certificate?
Frank’s death certificate confirms that he died due to complications from a stroke, officially stated as late sequelae of cerebral infarction. This was not the only contributing factor to his death, however, as he suffered from pre-existing conditions like aortic stenosis, which restricted blood flow to his heart, and COPD, a chronic lung disease that made breathing difficult for Frank. All these ailments played a role in Frank’s decline and, ultimately, his death.
The stroke was a result of cerebral vascular disease, leaving Frank with severe impairments he could only manage but never recover from. Fans were devastated that he had suffered more than they were aware of in his last years.
Frank Fritz’s co-host Mike Wolfe keeps ‘American Pickers’ alive
One of the first to break the news of Frank’s passing was his co-host, Mike Wolfe, who took to Instagram to share the heartbreaking announcement. He reflected on their decades-long friendship, describing Frank as a dreamer who had a deep impact on those around him.
They spent years traveling the country together, searching for antiques and sharing their passion for forgotten treasures until Frank withdrew to focus on recovery. Although Wolfe held the forte thinking Frank would return, he is now left to continue the show alongside his brother Robbie Wolfe.