American Pickers’ Rob Wolfe shut down claims brother Mike was feuding with Frank Fritz just weeks before his death
American Pickers' Rob Wolfe shut down claims brother Mike was feuding with Frank Fritz just weeks before his death
American Pickers’ Rob Wolfe dismissed rumors that his brother Mike was feuding with their late costar Frank Fritz just weeks before his death, revealing that the pair were on good terms and in regular contact.
Fritz died, aged 60, on Monday night, surrounded by his loved ones.
While his cause of death remains unknown, he had suffered a string of health setbacks in recent years, including a stroke in 2022.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com last month, Rob, 57, put to bed speculation that their was bad blood between Mike, 60, and Frank, insisting the former costars had kept in touch.
‘We’re in contact with him,’ he said. ‘The crew and I go up and see him.
Mike Wolfe (right) kept in contact with Frank Fritz (left) and visited him regularly before his death aged 60
It was announced on Tuesday morning that Fritz died surrounded by his loved ones on the evening of September 30
‘It’s kind of hard to talk about Frank in general, because he can’t really talk about it for himself.
‘My brother sees him more than I do.’
Giving a heartbreaking glimmer of hope, Rob added: ‘He’s doing good. He’s just not able to be out in the general public.’
Frank’s health took a huge hit in 2022 after he suffered a major stroke that left him wheelchair bound.
He had also battled Crohn’s disease – a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract – for several decades.
Speaking about his own relationship with the late History Channel star, Rob continued: ‘Frank and I have been friends since sixth grade, and you know we used to travel a lot together.
‘We would go to the lacrosse, we would go to Oktoberfest, those were the fun times. Those are the memories I have of him.’
Frank was involved in a public feud with Mike around 2020, with the late star revealing the pair had not spoken for years.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com last month, Rob said Frank was doing well and shared memories of his costars
He also revealed that his brother Mike saw him ‘more,’ but that all of the American Pickers crew were in touch with him
Their fallout began when he took time off from filming American Pickers that year to recover from back surgery.
But when the show returned in January 2021, Frank was still nowhere to be seen, with Mike later confirming in the July that Frank would not be returning to the series.
‘I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me,’ he said in a statement at the time.
‘The journey that Frank, Dani [Colby] and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding.’
He added: ‘I will miss Frank, just like all of you, and I pray for the very best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey.’
Insiders also told Entertainment Weekly that Frank did not fit into the show’s ‘big picture.’
That same month Frank revealed he had fallen out of contact with Mike and hadn’t talked to him in two years.
‘He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing,’ he told The U.S. Sun. ‘That’s just how it is.
‘The show is tilted towards him 1,000 per cent. I can’t even bend that far down to show you how much.
‘That’s fine. It’s like you’ve got Aerosmith and there’s Steven Tyler and he’s the front man. I found my spot, I’m second and he’s number one on the show.
‘That’s no problem with me, maybe he does have a problem.’
Speaking to Newsweek, he also hit out at Mike’s previous statement about his American Pickers exit.
‘Mike’s statement was bullsh*t,’ he told the outlet.
‘Somebody wrote it out for him. I don’t believe in 10 years he’s said five nice things to me, you know? Unless he was cutting somebody else down and we were both laughing.’
But in May 2023, it was reported that the feuding former costars had reunited over Memorial Day weekend.
Following the news of his death on Tuesday morning, Mike paid an emotional tribute to his ‘buddy.’
‘It’s with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘Who would have ever dreamed we would share the cockpit of a white cargo van in front of millions of people interested in our adventures.
‘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 added: ‘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 in a better place.’
Frank had been part of the series alongside Mike and Danielle Colby since it premiered in 2010
It was claimed on a Facebook group dedicated to Frank that Mike had made a ‘high speed’ rush to be by the star’s bedside.
Fellow American Pickers cast mate Danielle Colby wrote: ‘Frank, I will miss your ability to make everyone laugh, your love for talking tattoos, your epic collections but what I will miss the most are those little glimpses of vulnerability from time to time.
‘Frank, you loved your cat and your momma and we bonded on those things. You will be missed for all of these reasons and so many more. Rest in Peace Road Dog.’
Alongside a throwback photo of the pair together, Rob wrote: ‘It’s with a heavy heart I’m sad to say my friend Frank Fritz has passed away last night.
‘You all knew him from TV. But I knew him from traveling, fishing and family. He was the godfather to my twin girls. His smile was contagious and his laughter will be missed.
‘Most of all just time sitting in a fishing boat talking about life. I know you’re in a better place… Love you buddy hope you catch the big one until we see each other in heaven hold the boat steady.’
Frank was last seen on American Pickers in March 2020. He had been part of the series alongside Mike and Danielle Colby since it premiered in 2010.
