Frank Fritz

Frank Fritz's lifelong passion of digging through old junkyards and dilapidated basements in search of rare finds and antique collectibles turned him into one of the country's most recognized pickers and star of the hit reality show "American Pickers" (History Channel, 2010- ). Born and raised in Davenport, IA, Fritz started picking at an early age, collecting rocks and beer cans.

As a teenager, he followed the train tracks from his home to pick up items that were discarded by the hobos that rode the rails. It was around the same time that he met Mike Wolfe, who was also an avid picker. For 25 years, Fritz worked as a fire inspector and he began collecting firehouse-related trinkets.

He continued to pursue his passion of picking and in 2002, he quit his job and founded Frank's Finds, which he filled with vintage items, motorcycles, and other collectibles to sell. He often traveled with Wolfe, logging in thousands of miles in a cargo van and digging around strangers' junkyards, basements and garages. Wolfe began recording their adventures on the road for a television show that he was, at the time, pitching to networks.

In 2010, the duo became overnight sensations after the History Channel premiered "American Pickers," a reality show that followed Fritz and Wolf as they traveled across America in search of hidden treasures. During the first season, Fritz and his co-star traveled to 22 states, foraging through small, rural towns in search of old warehouses and dilapidated barns that often turned out to be goldmines packed with rare finds.

Week after week, millions of viewers tuned in to watch them negotiating with various types of sellers, including serious and casual collectors, in an effort to get them to part ways with their prized possessions. Even-tempered and likeable, Fritz had an affinity for any item with an engine, particularly old Hondas, and kept his eyes peeled for resalable items like mid-century modern furniture, industrial parts, and road signs.

The show also benefited from a healthy dose of comedy as a result of the genuine and easy banter between Fritz and Wolfe. In less than a year since "American Pickers" first aired, Fritz had become a bona fide reality star, appearing on various talk shows like "The Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS, 1993-2015) as well as lending his expertise on similar-themed shows such as "American Restoration" (History Channel, 2010- ).

By Candy Cuenco