Frank Fritz said his absence from American Pickers began after he finished filming, had back surgery, and the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. History later confirmed he would not return. Although Fritz described a serious rift with co-host Mike Wolfe, available reporting does not establish that the feud alone caused the network’s decision.
When did Frank Fritz leave American Pickers?
Fritz’s last episode aired in March 2020. On July 21, 2021, TheWrap reported that he would not return; History subsequently confirmed his exit. TheWrap noted that Fritz had appeared in more than 300 episodes.
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Fritz described the sequence behind his absence to The Sun: “I finished shooting and then I had a little back surgery and the pandemic came.” He also said, “I didn’t leave the show.” Those statements explain his account of how the absence started, but they are not a complete explanation from History of its decision.
What did Fritz say about his relationship with Mike Wolfe?
Fritz said he and Wolfe had not spoken for two years. “He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing,” Fritz told The Sun. He also said the show was tilted toward Wolfe and compared Wolfe’s position to that of Aerosmith’s frontman, describing himself as second.
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Wolfe responded publicly after news of the departure, saying, “I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me,” and, “I will miss Frank.” His statement expressed affection but did not explain the network’s internal decision.
Was Frank Fritz fired?
History confirmed that Fritz would not return, but the cited reporting does not detail the network’s internal casting or employment process. That means the public record does not settle whether “fired” is the right description. Fritz disputed that he had left voluntarily, while his absence followed back surgery and the pandemic. The strained relationship with Wolfe is part of the story, but the reporting does not prove it was the decisive cause of his departure.
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Did Fritz’s later stroke cause his departure?
No. Fritz suffered a stroke in July 2022, after History had confirmed he would not return. The Associated Press reported that longtime friend Annette Oberlander said Fritz never fully recovered. The stroke is a later event, separate from the back surgery and pandemic he cited when describing the start of his absence.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Fritz also lived with Crohn’s disease, which persisted. After his death, History and Cineflix Productions remembered him as “the bearded charmer” and referred to his search for vintage motorcycles and bikes.
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