Colby confirms Frank had been hospitalized 17 times in two years before suffering a stroke in 2022, and says Mike Wolfe supported him quietly behind the scenes until his passing in 2024.

After years of silence, American Pickers star Danielle Colby is finally setting the record straight — and fans might be shocked by what she has to say.

In an emotional and unfiltered interview months after Frank Fritz’s death, Colby opens up about the drama, rumors, and truth behind Frank’s exit from the long-running History Channel hit.

“There’s been so much speculation. People think there was some big blowout fight,” Danielle said, her voice steady but emotional. “But it wasn’t like that. Frank didn’t quit because he was mad. He quit because he physically couldn’t keep going. His body just gave out.”

It’s the confirmation many fans suspected — and feared. Frank Fritz, the bearded, beloved picker known for his dry humor and sharp eye for small treasures, hadn’t appeared on the show since 2020.

At the time, viewers were left wondering why the dynamic duo of Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz had suddenly gone solo. Online chatter exploded.

Rumors of feuds, betrayals, and backstabbing ran wild. But Colby, who had stayed mostly quiet, decided now — after Frank’s passing in October 2024 — was the right time to finally share the full story.

“We all started this thing together,” she said. “Mike, Frank, and me. Back then, it was just two guys in a van, chasing junk, and me running the shop in LeClaire. It felt like a little family. But fame changes things. Not always in a bad way — just… different.”

Colby recalls the early days with a fond smile. “Mike had the big ideas. Frank was more low-key, always zeroing in on the smaller stuff. And I was the one holding it all together at the shop,” she laughed. “We were a team.”

But as the show exploded — drawing in millions of viewers and becoming one of the History Channel’s most successful series — the pressures mounted. According to Colby, those pressures hit Frank the hardest.

“Frank had Crohn’s disease for years. People don’t realize how much pain he was in,” she said. “By 2018, he’d been hospitalized 17 times in just two years. That’s not something you bounce back from easily.”

Then came the stroke in 2022. Danielle learned about it through the crew, and she was shaken. “That hit hard,” she admitted. “Frank never liked asking for help.

But Mike was there. He dropped everything to visit. Brought him old pictures, stuff they’d picked together. Sat by his bedside. That’s the part people don’t see.”

Despite years of whispers claiming Mike Wolfe had ditched his longtime co-star, Colby insists nothing could be further from the truth.

“Mike didn’t push Frank out,” she said. “He waited. He adjusted filming schedules. He tried. But Frank just couldn’t keep up.

That show is a beast — long hours, heavy travel, constant shooting. Mike stayed loyal. After the stroke, he was paying bills, checking in. He never stopped caring.”

Colby finally spoke publicly back in 2021 via Instagram, at the height of fan outrage over Frank’s absence. The post showed her standing with Mike, captioned with support. It was seen as her taking sides — and in a way, it was.

“I posted that because people were twisting everything,” she said. “Mike’s my brother. He’s always had my back. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t care about Frank. I just wasn’t going to sit there and let people spin some made-up drama.”

Still, her words in the post were heavy with meaning: “Frank caused so much pain for himself that it has been hard to watch.” At the time, fans didn’t know what to make of it. Now, with time and perspective, Colby is ready to elaborate.

“He was struggling,” she said simply. “Pain messes with your mind. And when you’re in the public eye, it’s worse. People expect you to smile, perform, keep going. Frank just couldn’t anymore. That’s not weakness. That’s being human.”

She pauses, then adds, “He loved picking. He really did. But toward the end, it wasn’t fun for him. It hurt. And it broke all our hearts.”

As for whether Frank ever found peace before his death, Danielle can’t say for sure. “I didn’t talk to him much after he left the show. I figured he’d reach out if he wanted to. But I always hoped he’d get the help he needed.”

When Frank passed away in October 2024, Mike Wolfe was reportedly by his side. Danielle didn’t post a tribute — not right away. She says she needed time to process.

“I lost a friend. And I lost part of what made this whole crazy ride so special. Frank was a big part of the show’s heart. And when he was gone, it left a hole.”

She reflects on the legacy the trio built together, from dusty backroads to national fame. “We built something special. People still come into the shop, still ask about Frank. That says something.”

Colby doesn’t plan to talk much more about it. “I’ve said what I needed to say. No big fight. No villain. Just a man who was hurting, and a friend who stayed until the end. That’s the truth. And I’m okay leaving it there.”

And with that, Danielle Colby closes the chapter — not with scandal or blame, but with honesty, respect, and the kind of quiet loyalty that speaks volumes.