Very sad news today out of the television world:
Richard Harrison, the co-owner and founder of Rick Harrison’s Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and a lead cast member on History Channel’s Pawn Stars, passed away on Monday morning.
He was 77 years old.
Harrison was known as “Old Man” to all involved and to all who watched this long-running reality series, and his death was confirmed by his son today in a lengthy and emotional statement.
It reads as follows:
Richard Benjamin ‘The Old Man’ Harrison passed away this morning surrounded by those he loved. He will be tremendously missed by our family, the team at Gold & Silver Pawn and his many fans the world over.
He was my hero and I was fortunate to get a very cool ‘Old Man’ as my dad.
That I got to share him with so many others and they got to see what a great family man he was is something I am grateful to have experienced with him.
He lived a very full life and through the History television show Pawn Stars touched the lives of people all over teaching them the value of loving your family, hard work and humor.
We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and ask that we are provided some privacy at this time.
We do not know Harrison’s cause of death at the moment.
He hadn’t appeared much at all over the course of the past couple years on the aforementioned show, however, hinting at some kind of illness.
Old Man moved to Las Vegas way back in the1980s and opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop with his son, Rick, in 1989.
Producers eventually convinced the father and son to star in a show about their lives and their business, with Old Man cementing himself as a fan favorite ever since Pawn Stars premiered in July of 2009.
Says History Channel executives in a statement:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Richard ‘The Old Man’ Harrison, a beloved member of the HISTORY and ‘Pawn Stars’ family.
“He will be greatly missed for his wisdom and candor.”
A veteran of the United States Navy, Harrison was beloved for his witty comebacks, tough demeanor… and for his keen eye for picking treasures out of trash.
He had an impressive knowledge of history and often talked about his military background.
The pawn shop itself also shared a message on Facebook on Monday.
This is what it says:
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.
The team at Gold & Silver Pawn and the Pawn Stars family is grieving his loss.
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.
Services are pending and the family appreciates your prayers and kind words.
Pawn Stars is currently in Season 15.
We send our condolences to the friends, family members and loved ones of Richard Harrison.
May he rest in peace.
