Richard Harrison, the surly reality star affectionately known as “Old Man” on Pawn Stars, is dead at age 77.
The news was confirmed on the Las Vegas-based Gold & Silver Pawn Shop’s official Facebook page:
“It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of Richard Benjamin Harrison (known as ‘The Old Man’ to ‘Pawn Stars’ fans the world over) this morning. He was surrounded by loving family this past weekend and went peacefully.”
“He will be remembered as the best father, grandfather and great-grandfather you could have by his family and by fans as the sometimes grumpy (always loving, however), often wisecracking, and voice of absolute reason on the History television show ‘Pawn Stars’.”
His son and Pawn Stars co-star, Rick Harrison, revealed that “the Old Man lost his long battle with Parkinson’s” in an emotional Instagram post.
Grandson Corey Harrison also paid tribute to the beloved TV personality.
“I was lucky enough to spend 15 years of my life working with the old man. He wasn’t just a grandfather, he was truly a best friend as well. I’m truly blessed to have had him as a mentor.”
Over the course of a few decades, Harrison transformed a small investment into a wildly successful business and brand.
Fox News has further details:
The Navy veteran opened the Gold & Silver Pawn store with his son Rick in 1988. The family partriach intially put his money into the real estate market but changed course after he lost a million dollars.
He moved to Las Vegas and put $10,000 in the pawn shop and saw his investment grow into a multi-million dollar company, complete with a reality show.
The Harrisons and their pawn shop rose to fame on the hit History Channel series “Pawn Stars” which premiered in 2009 and has been on the air for 15 seasons.
Pawn Stars fans mourned Harrison’s passing on Twitter:
Rest In Peace Richard Harrison… He was a dear friend and will miss him … via @SashaFB Richard 'Old Man' Harrison of 'Pawn Stars' dead at 77 – Fox Newshttps://apple.news/A7O3bxl1YQi6-s_bs9eFfuQ
— The Oak Ridge Boys (@oakridgeboys) June 25, 2018
Prayers to their family 🙁 –> #BREAKING – Pawn Stars patriarch Richard Harrison, known as "Old Man," dead at 77 – https://t.co/lqPMrNgG6P #news965 #wdbo #pawnstars pic.twitter.com/YPpW4UnBYL
— Laurel Lee (@LaurelLeeWDBO) June 25, 2018
The show won't be the same. R.I.P. Richard Harrison. https://t.co/PoqNyIV2lh
— Big Cheese 107.9 (@bigcheese1079) June 25, 2018
RIP Richard ‘The Old Man’ Harrison from Pawn Stars pic.twitter.com/rgXR0SsCd5
— theCHIVE (@theCHIVE) June 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/erniemeyer4/status/1011252355160006656https://twitter.com/MatthewKick/status/1011268502194442241
Remember Harrison with some of most memorable “Old Man” moments below:
