Frank Fritz, a jocular Everyman who as one half of the duo behind the hit show “American Pickers” found ratings gold by unearthing fortunes in attics, basements and garage sales, died Monday in Davenport, Iowa. He was 58.

His manager, Bill Stankey, confirmed the death, in a hospice. He said that the cause had not been announced, but that Fritz had been dealing with a number of health issues, including Crohn’s disease and the effects of a stroke in 2022.

Debuting on the History Channel in 2010, “American Pickers,” which Fritz hosted with his longtime friend Mike Wolfe, was part of a wave of reality TV shows that mined everyday Americana for stories, profit and no small amount of drama.

Unlike older, more sedate shows like public television’s “Antiques Roadshow,” “American Pickers” blended serious appraisal with rough-edged personality and quirky flair.

– The New York Times