AMERICAN Pickers alum Frank Fritz looked happy and healthy in rare fan photos after his major weight loss.
Frank, 58, was fired from American Pickers in July 2021 after he took time off the series in March 2020 to recover from back surgery.
Since Frank’s firing from the hit series, he has kept a low profile in his hometown of Iowa.
The Sun can exclusively reveal recent fan photos of Frank posted in the Frank Fritz Fans Facebook group.
In the photos, Frank looked happy and healthy as he smiled big next to a fan.
Frank showed off his thin figure in a shirt, jacket and jeans, as he has continued to keep up with his weight loss.
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A member captioned the series of photos: “This was from yesterday when Frank ‘picked’ his Corvette up from my buddy Mike’s shop after repair.
“He sat and shot the breeze for three hours or so. It was a blast. Great guy!”
The fan claimed Frank “will never go back to American Pickers.”
The member continued: “He is trying to get a show about nostalgic car restorations with a story behind them in the works.”
The post comes after The Sun exclusively 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.”
And fans agree, as many have boycotted the series and demanded Frank star in his own spinoff.
One fan wrote on social media: “Bring Frank back with his own show!”
A second said: “I think Frank would do better on his own show. I would watch it.”
A third commented: “Frank should start his own show. It would be better than Pickers.”
A fourth fan wrote: “We haven’t watched American Pickers since you left the show Frank. You are missed. Take care bud.”
Co-star Mike Wolfe revealed in July that Frank had been fired from the show, as he has been replaced with his brother Robbie.
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.”
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.”
Ratings have struggled since the cast shakeup, as viewers have tuned out since Frank’s absence.
As The Sun reported, Frank last appeared on American Pickers during a March 2020 episode, as he took time off to recover from back surgery, which left him with 185 stitches and two rods in his spine.
During his time off the show, Frank lost 65 pounds, as he is living a healthier lifestyle and is sober from alcohol.
He also told The Sun that he entered rehab for alcohol addiction in Iowa for 77 days.
Frank 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.”
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.
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Frank currently lives in his Iowa farmhouse that he bought for $130,000 back on May 14, 2010.
He owns antique shop Frank Fritz Finds located in Illinois.
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