AMERICAN Pickers star Frank Fritz has suffered a stroke, his old co-star revealed in a cryptic comment.

Mike Wolfe posted a picture of Frank on his Instagram with a caption asking fans to put aside past drama on the show as Frank remains in the hospital.

Mike cryptically wrote: “I have been very private in the past year in regards to Franks life and the journey he’s been on. There has been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show but now is not the time to set the record straight. "

"Now is the time to pray for my friend. Frank has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital. Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts."

Mike concluded: "Frank, I pray more than anything that you make it through this okay. I love you, buddy."

Read our Frank Fritz health updates live blog for the latest news...

Frank Fritz wanted to return to American Pickers

Frank Fritz, 56, spoke to The Sun in July 2021, shortly after the news broke of his release from the series, claiming that he was eager to return to the cast.

He said at the time: “I would like to come back to the show."

"I was doing it for 11 years. I’m 100 percent recovered now and I’m ready to roll and go back on the show."

Frank's last appearance on American Pickers

Frank Fritz's latest health issue comes one year after he was fired from his role on American Pickers.

He last appeared on the show during a March 2020 episode, before he took time off to recover from back surgery.

American Pickers premiere ratings have dropped compared to previous seasons.

The Sun can exclusively reveal ratings for the July 9 episode had just 833,000 viewers tune in. 

Season 23 of American Pickers kicked off on January 1, 2022 with 1,050,000 viewers but by the end of the season, viewers lost interest, as only 830,000 viewers watched the March 12 episode. 

The March 19 episode, which was the final one before the months-long break, had just 804,000 viewers. 

The Sun previously reported Frank is in talks for his own show. 

A source close to Frank previously told The Sun: “He is in touch with a producer who lives in Las Vegas. Frank has sold him a lot of stuff for his ranch.

"He recently went out there again. I think it could be for his show.”

Frank has been open about wanting to return to the small screen, as he previously told The Sun of American Pickers: “I’d still like to get back to my job, I miss my friends and my people and being on the road and meeting all those different characters.”

'You've got the fight in you'

Danielle Colby, another former co-star on American Pickers, took to Instagram on Friday to react to the news of Frank Fritz's stroke.

"I’ve just woken to this post by Mike and an article by TMZ. I have no idea what the situation is until I speak with my AP crew," she wrote.

"Until then I’m flying blind on my information so I will simply say this… Frank, you’ve got the fight in you."

"I’ve watched it for almost 2 decades. Just keep on fighting. Never stop fighting."

"Ive learned never to trust a tabloid, so, I’ll post more when I speak with actual humans that I trust with such personal and delicate information."

Mike and Frank's feud

The co-stars had been feuding, as Frank previously told The Sun of their falling out: “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years. He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is."

"The show is tilted towards him 1,000 percent. 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."

Mike’s younger brother Robbie replaced the original cast member. 

Frank Fritz slammed Mike Wolfe in last interview before stroke

In his last interview before his health scare, Frank Fritz slammed his former costar Mike Wolfe.

Frank branded Mike "arrogant" in an exclusive interview with The Sun last year.

He said in July 2021: “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years."

"He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is."

Fans worry for Frank Fritz

After news of his stroke broke, fans on social media shared well wishes for Frank Fritz and worried for the American Pickers star.

"Thoughts and prayers for Frank Fritz of American Pickers whom suffered a massive stroke," one person wrote on Twitter.

"Ohhhh no, I’m so upset!" someone else wrote.

"I really liked him best on Pickers and haven’t watched it since they did him dirty. Hope for a speedy recovery."

'Now is not the time to set the record straight'

While letting fans know that Frank Fritz had suffered a stroke, Mike Wilfe included a rather cryptic comment about their friendship in a post on Instagram.

"I have been very private in the past year in regards to Franks life and the journey he’s been on," he wrote.

"There has been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show but now is not the time to set the record straight. Now is the time to pray for my friend."

"Frank has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital," he continued.

"Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts. Frank I pray more than anything that you make it through this okay. I love you buddy."

A post shared by Mike Wolfe (@mikewolfeamericanpicker)

Last year, Frank Fritz underwent major back surgery that left him with 185 stitches and two rods in his spine.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the collector revealed his ongoing health struggles. 

Frank said: “I had a couple of rods put in there. It was from lifting stuff all the time. If you watch the show, you can see who the guy is that’s lifting all the time, it’s always me. It had been hurting for a long, long time. I’m talking months and months and months. 

“Finally I had it looked at and they said it was about ready to split in half, the bones going up in the middle of my spine. 

“They put a couple of big rods up the middle of my spine. I had to get 185 stitches and two rods in my back. I had the back injury but I can lift, I’m okay.”

On Saturday, the American Pickers' official Twitter account posted a message to fans, gearing up for that night's episode.

Fans fired off their thoughts in the comments, claiming the series isn't as entertaining as before.

One person wrote: "I gotta be honest this show isn’t good with Robbie on instead of Frank. Unwatchable."

Another griped: "It’s sad this moved to Saturday nite, particularly during the summer."

Frank was open about wanting to return to American Pickers after his hiatus, as he said: “I’d still like to get back to my job, I miss my friends and my people and being on the road and meeting all those different characters.”

But Mike revealed in July that Frank had been fired from the show.

He wrote on Instagram: “I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me. The journey that Frank, Dani 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.

“The support that you all have given us has been a constant reminder of what the show’s message has always been; thru these places, people, and things we all have a common thread. We’re here to not only take care of the past, but also each other.”

Mike concluded: “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.”

Frank’s time in rehab

Frank said of his time in treatment: “They gave me a lot of information and we were booked up for 13 or 14 hours a day. There was no sitting around watching TV or eating food. You were scheduled out for an hour, then an hour and half, all through the day.

“They really give you a lot of one-on-one time. I read 12 self-help books while I was there. I didn’t f**k around. I really got into it. I went there to learn and get the most out of it that I possibly could. 

“I had a great time there and I helped other people who were having problems too. It’s one of the best things that have happened to me.”

Frank continued that he goes to meetings “twice a week” after the stint.

The former History Channel star said he would’ve been sober for a year if it weren’t for a relapse. 

Frank told The Sun that he entered rehab for alcohol addiction in Iowa for 77 days.

He previously said: “I went to rehab and I’ve been sober now for 11 months.

“I didn’t like drinking anymore. My mom was an alcoholic and she died five years ago and it was alcohol-related. My grandfather was an alcoholic and he died. That didn’t sit well with me.”

The star currently owns antique shop Frank Fritz Finds located in Illinois. 

The store has received poor reviews over the years, as the location has been slammed for its “cheap” items and “disorganization.”

The Sun can exclusively reveal Frank has improved his store, as reviews have been more positive in recent months. 

One customer wrote on Google: “Much improved. Hard to find items. Great prices. Looking for something, just ask. They will find virtually anything. Highly recommend. Sent lots of customers. Never heard a negative word. People thanked for sending them to store.”

A second said: “Love this place. Had one of the best burgers ever here. Char grilled… very cool place to visit.”

In an effort to turn his life around, Frank recently lost 65 pounds and he was believed to be living a healthier lifestyle and avoiding alcohol.

Frank told The Sun that he checked into rehab for alcohol abuse in Iowa for 77 days.

It came after his nasty split from longtime girlfriend turned ex-fiancee Diann Bankson.

Frank said of their breakup: “I tried to drink her away.”

The vintage enthusiast also suffers from Crohn’s disease, which he has been battling for over 30 years.

One year after show’s twist

The shocking news of Frank’s stroke comes one year after he was fired from his role on American Pickers.

He last appeared on the show during a March 2020 episode, before he took time off to recover from back surgery.

Although they were childhood friends, a source close to Frank exclusively revealed to The Sun that Mike has not reached out to him since he was fired from the show.

Since Frank was let go, The Sun has revealed that the show’s ratings have plummeted to under one million viewers for the first time in years.

Fan reactions to the news

Fans of American Pickers rushed in to share their best wishes in the comments of Mike’s post.

“Prayers to a full recovery!” wrote one.

Another shared: “I’m so sorry to hear this and I hope the two of you were able to heal old wounds.”

A third added: “Oh my god NO! He’ll pull through.”

What happened to Frank Fritz?

American Pickers star Frank Fritz has suffered a stroke and remains in the hospital as his former co-star Mike Wolfe has begged fans for their prayers.

Mike, 58, made a lengthy statement on Instagram to share the sad news.

He began: “I have been very private in the past year in regards to Frank’s life and the journey he’s been on. There have been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show but now is not the time to set the record straight. Now is the time to pray for my friend.

“Frank has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital. Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts.”

Mike concluded: “Frank, I pray more than anything that you make it through this okay. I love you, buddy.”

Danielle Colby is the shop manager of the stores in Iowa and Tennessee. She spends her free time in Puerto Rico and volunteers to rebuild the island, help orphanages, and animal shelters, according to the History Channel.

Colby had reportedly been friends with Wolfe years before the show was even a concept and was asked by him to join the cast once it was created.

However, she did not hint at being part of the show for much longer and said during an interview in 2012 that “one never knows what will happen in the future."

"I highly doubt that Antique Archaeology is the last job I'll ever have in my life, though it is definitely the coolest job I've had to date.

"It all depends on when my time there has run its course. I have an obligation to Mike who put me in the position I'm in right now, and I'll respect that 'til the end.

"My plan is just to stick around and see what happens. But I have a contract, and I'll of course honor that contract. I guess that's a sugar-coated way of saying I'd love a spin-off."

Mike Wolfe, 56, is the creator of American Pickers.

The show’s star prides himself in being a curator of treasures tied to US history and preserving ancient artifacts from previous generations.

His specialty shops that sell the vintage items have become top tourist destinations in Le Claire, Iowa and Nashville, Tennessee.

Wolfe runs an antiques website called Antique Archaeology where fans of the show can shop online for merchandise designed by him.

He also runs a blog on the site and takes submissions from people who may want to give up their antiques.

Diann's new boyfriend

The Sun exclusively revealed that Diann has moved on from the former American Pickers star with a new boyfriend. 

Diann is dating Davenport, Iowa resident Eric Longlett - who is an Engineering Administration Manager for the city of Davenport.

Diann debuted her new man on Facebook back in February 2022 when they attended a family graduation. 

In March, she praised her boyfriend for planning the “best birthday weekend.”

She wrote on Facebook: “He took me to see Elton John's Yellow Brick Road Farewell Tour. How cool I share the same birth date as EJ… and on this weekend got to be blown away with his music. I'm a lucky girl… Love you Babe oxo.”

Diann's response to cheating claims

Diann exclusively responded to The Sun of Frank’s cheating claims: “It's not true what he's saying. If he's trying to make me look like the bad person of course I'm going to say it's not true, because it's not.

"The bottom line is that I know the truth and that's all that matters. He's playing the victim and it's not true. I wasn't cheating on him at all, I was waiting here every two weeks when he was on the road, waiting for him to get home. 

“I just want to move on because every time I think about it I get a little upset, I get hurt all over again and I can't keep doing this. 

She concluded: "I don't care to have drama or chaos in my life, I'm just trying to heal right now. It's been two years, I'm ready to move on." 

Frank and Diann's history

Frank and Diann have a long history, as they dated when he was 25, again at 35 and then a final time at age 55.

The couple bought a stunning Iowa home for $355,000 in March 2018. 

Frank sold the mansion after their split for $358,000 in January 2021. 

He said: “You’d think I would have learned, she cheated each time. I don’t think she can help herself. 

“I do not need to spend one minute of my day thinking about anything to do with her. I’m no angel, but neither is she.”

Frank's cheating claims

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the American Pickers star insisted Diann is the one who was unfaithful, as he even got a tattoo to remind him of her “betrayal.”

He told The Sun: “I was going to get married, I bought a house and a big expensive ring, and then I find out my fiancée had been dating somebody else for two and a half years. 

“She’s the cheater, that’s why I got a tattoo saying ‘Once a cheater always a cheater.’ I got the tattoo two years ago just to remind myself not to make the same mistake again. She cost me six figures.”

He continued to claim: “She was cheating a lot longer than me. I had someone over at the house, but that’s all it was. She didn’t catch me in the act, it was nothing like that.”

Kourtney Kardashian looks unrecognizable as she shows off dramatic makeover

American Pickers' Frank Fritz hospitalized as Mike fears he won't ‘make it through’

Travis Barker concerns fans with 'disturbing' new photo after hospital stay

Honey Boo Boo's boyfriend Dralin 21, arrested & accused of statutory rape

© 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP