Is Frank Fritz married? ‘American Pickers’ star hospitalized after suffering stroke

'Frank I pray more than anything that you make it through this okay. I love you buddy,' said Fritz's former co-star Mike Wolfe
PUBLISHED JUL 22, 2022
Frank Fritz had been on 'American Pickers' since it premiered in 2010 (Instagram/frankfritz_)
Frank Fritz had been on 'American Pickers' since it premiered in 2010 (Instagram/frankfritz_)

Frank Fritz, the former 'American Pickers' star, has been hospitalized after having a stroke. Longtime 'American Pickers' co-star Mike Wolfe revealed that the reality star, who was previously engaged to girlfriend Diann Bankson, was hospitalized after suffering a stroke.

While no details regarding his condition were provided, Wolfe requested History Channel viewers to "keep him in your hearts and thoughts." Fritz and Wolfe had been on 'American Pickers' since it premiered in 2010, but fans were startled when he announced his departure in July. Wolfe who hasn't spoken about Fritz's exit since then, however, admitted in an Instagram message on Thursday, July 21 that there has been much conjecture about their bond since then. "I have been very private in the past year in regards to Franks life and the journey he’s been on," Wolfe explained.

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"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, " he continued. "Frank has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital. Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts," Wolfe concluded by sending a direct message to Fritz. "Frank I pray more than anything that you make it through this okay. I love you buddy," Wolfe finished.

The History Channel's 'American Pickers' premiered in 2010 and followed Wolfe, Fritz, and their coworker Danielle Colby-Cushman as they ran an antique business in Iowa. Wolfe and Fritz are shown traveling the country in pursuit of various collectibles. Last June, it was revealed that Fritz was quitting the program due to a number of health issues, including back surgery and Crohn's disease. Fritz, according to Wolfe, "is like a brother to me," and he will "pray for the very best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey."

Fritz, on the other hand, portrayed a quite different picture in an interview with The Sun. "Mike’s statement was bullshit, somebody wrote it out for him. We never were friends in grade school. I don’t believe in ten years he’s said five nice things to me, you know? Unless he was cutting somebody else down and we were both laughing," Fritz stated.

Is Frank Fritz married?

The Sun reported on March 11, 2021, that Fritz cheated on his fianceé Diann and "caused her to suffer third-degree burns" after fireworks detonated in his home. Fritz had been engaged to Diann Bankson since 2017. According to Distractify, he began posting images of Diann on his Facebook profile as early as 2016. Nevertheless, Diann would periodically appear on Fritz's page, according to the publication, although their relationship status was unknown at the time.

Fritz has previously treated Diann's daughter Paige and Paige's daughter Eulalia as if they were family. "Diann's family is my family. It is great being Grandpa Frank! I love my girls," earlier stated in a 2017 Facebook post.

Diann sued Fritz for negligence on January 27, 2020, according to court documents obtained by The Sun. After fireworks burst in his home, the 'American Pickers' actor allegedly "cheated" on Diann and "caused her to suffer third-degree burns." Diann claimed in 2017 that she and Fritz were engaged and living together in his Iowa farmhouse. She "walked in and caught him in bed with another woman" in November 2018.

Following their reconciliation, she said an incident occurred at the farmhouse when Frank and a friend blew off fireworks. Diann stated the men "had been drinking" at the time she went inside to light the fireworks. She went on to say in court that the men were unable to ignite a firework. “Both defendants then put it in a closed cylinder vintage ashtray and tried to light it there," Diann claimed. "The firework did not light again and the Defendant just left it in the covered intake ashtray instead of properly disposing the firework.”

Frank and Diann (Facebook/Frank Fritz)
Frank and Diann (Facebook/Frank Fritz)

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She then claimed that she was not informed about the ashtray because she was smoking a cigarette at the time. According to the lawsuit, “the ashtray blew up severely burning her hand and arm with third degree burns and burnt off eyelashes and eyebrows." Fritz, she alleged, "refused" to "take her to the hospital," rather telling her to "toughen up." In the days that followed, she went to the hospital and was "treated for third degree burns."

Frank and Diann (Facebook/Frank Fritz)
Frank and Diann (Facebook/Frank Fritz)

When the pair split up again, she said he changed the locks on their separate Iowa home. Diann wanted $50,000, alleging Fritz was “negligent in the operation of fireworks.” She claimed to have suffered from pain and suffering, emotional strain and mental agony, past and future loss of bodily function and scarring, loss of earning capacity, disruption of normal life, and medical expenses. Diann dropped the complaint on March 19, 2020, despite the occurrence.

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