Yahoo Lifestyle “American Pickers”' Mike Wolfe Still Checks in with Late Costar Frank Fritz's Loved Ones 6 Months After His Death (Exclusive)
On Sept. 30, Fritz died at 60 after suffering a stroke as a result of cerebral vascular disease
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(L) Mike Wolfe and Frank FritzMike Wolfe is taking care of those who mattered most to Frank Fritz.
In an exclusive sit down with PEOPLE, the American Pickers star, 60, opened up about how he's been helping the loved ones of his late costar and friend six months after his death at age 60.
"We've all known each other for such a long time, Chris, and his brother, and Annette," Wolfe said of those closest to Fritz. "I check in with them from time to time and see what's going on, and if they have any questions in regards to some of the things that they're coming across of his, I am able to answer those for them."
The television personality admitted that things have been "hard" for everyone now that Fritz is gone.
"Frank always had a very small circle. He learned early in life that he didn't need 20 acquaintances, he just needed three or four really good friends. And so he always led his life that way," he said. "I mean, he was always a guy everybody knew, but he held onto his circle very close and was somebody that would do anything for anybody."
"So they're all kind of stepping back and just trying to get through it themselves," he added.
In October 2024, Wolfe confirmed Fritz's death on Sept. 30 with an emotional post shared to Instagram. Shortly after, TMZ reported that the late television personality died after he suffered a stroke as a result of cerebral vascular disease.
His death certificate also reported that Fritz had aortic stenosis, which is a chronic condition that makes blood flow throughout the body difficult. Both aortic stenosis and cerebral vascular disease were contributing factors in his death.
A month later, Wolfe recalled his final moments with Fritz in a conversation with PEOPLE. When he took his final breath, Wolfe, his mother and Fritz's late mother's best friend Annette were by his side.
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"I got the call that he wasn't doing well. I just feel blessed that I was able to get there," Wolfe recalled. "I was there for about an hour before he passed, and I was holding his hand and rubbing his chest when he took his last breath. I took my fingers and I closed his eyes."
In their final moments together, "I just told him that I wasn't mad at him and that I loved him and that I cared about him so much," he continued. "And then when I could see that he was struggling, I just said, 'Just go find your mom. Go find her right now. Just go find her.'"
Read the original article on People
