Pawn Stars Team Pay Tribute To Richard 'The Old Man' Harrison
Richard Harrison of Pawn Stars fame died on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the age of 77 after a battle with Parkinson's disease. Affectionately known as "The Old Man," Harrison founded and operated the Las Vegas-based World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, which he opened in 1989. After years of buying low and selling high, the Harrison family business eventually became the focal point of Pawn Stars. The massively successful History Channel reality series debuted in July 2009 and follows the day-to-day happenings of the pawn shop and the experts who visit to help appraise valuable (and sometimes straight-up weird) items people hope to sell.
The Old Man could always be counted on for a dose of experience (he'd seen just about everything) and down-to-earth expertise ("You'll never be able to sell that boat, Corey"). And if you didn't enjoy watching the Old Man tool around in classic cars from his younger days, well, you just might not have a heart.
Following his passing, the Pawn Stars team paid tribute to Harrison, remembering the man he was and the work ethic he held.
Rick Harrison's tribute to his father
Harrison's son, Richard "Rick" Harrison, shared two separate tributes to his father, both uploaded on Instagram. The first is a snap of Harrison wearing dark sunglasses and a fedora, with a touching message written in its caption.
"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," Rick wrote.
Rick later posted a photo of his father from his days in the U.S. Navy with the caption, "Today I lost a friend, a father, a teacher, and so much more. The Old Man lost his long battle with Parkinson's this morning. Love you Dad. See you on the other side."
Corey Harrison remembers his grandfather
The grandson of the Old Man and the son of Rick Harrison, Richard Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison remembered his grandfather as more than just a family member. Harrison said that his grandpa was actually more like a best friend to Corey, who began helping out at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop when he was just 9 years old, later becoming the store's full-time manager.
"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," wrote Corey in an Instagram post that shows a photo of Not-So-Old-Man Richard Harrison wearing a suit and striped tie. "He will be missed everyday."
Austin Chumlee Russell fondly remembers his friend
A childhood friend of Corey Harrison's who began working at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in 2004, Austin "Chumlee" Russell remembered Harrison as a kind, humorous man who offered honesty and tough love when it mattered most.
"It's hard to believe he is gone. He was such a big part of my life and treated me like family," Russell wrote on Twitter. "I will miss him greatly and carry the lessons he taught me throughout my life. You could always count on him to straighten you out or make you laugh and both of those things I need."
Steve Grad's remembrance of Harrison
Steve Grad, one of the many experts who have appeared on Pawn Stars, twice honored the Old Man on social media.
Grad first shared on Facebook, "While I never had the chance to film with The Old Man, he was always at the shop and pretty active either in the back or making sure everything was set up correctly every morning. I'm very thankful that I got to spend some extra time with him last month while doing some work at the shop. It was great to see him tour the shop floor making sure it was set up for the day. May you Rest In Peace fine sir."
The next message came on Twitter, where Grad again sent his "heartfelt sympathies" to his "good friend Rick Harrison ... the entire Harrison family and all of my friends at [Gold & Silver Pawn] on loss of The 'Old Man' Richard Harrison."
Jesse Amoroso shares a touching tribute
Pawn Stars expert Jesse Amoroso, a vintage instrument and amplifier specialist and the owner of Cowtown Guitars, took to Facebook to remember Harrison as not only a successful businessman, but also as a role model and a mentor.
"Mr. Harrison was someone more men should aspire to be. He was totally old school: at work everyday in a suit and always there with a wise remark and a laugh," Amoroso's post reads. "When I first took over Cowtown, he would ask how I was doing with the shop. He was always there for advice and trust me I asked a lot of questions. He had a way of simplifying business concepts in a way that made sense to me. He also told me many times that I'd mess up along the way but I should always learn from my mistakes."
He concluded, "So Rest In Peace, Mr. Harrison, and God Speed."
Bob Yuhas remembers Harrison in his purest form
Bob Yuhas, an antiques repair and conservation expert who appeared on the series in season 8, kept his tribute to Harrison short, simple, and sweet. On Facebook, Yuhas wrote that Harrison wasn't just "The Old Man" — he was The Kind Man as well.
"Sad to hear Richard Harrison passed away," Yuhas said. "He was [a] very nice man."
Dr. Phineas T. Kastle honors Harrison's best qualities
One of the more eccentric experts Pawn Stars has featured, Dr. Phineas T. Kastle momentarily stripped back his larger-than-life persona to honor Harrison from the heart. Kastle used his personal Kenneth Kastler Facebook account to share a message celebrating Harrison's admirable qualities. He also posted a collage of photos of himself with Harrison.
"My heart goes out today to my Pawn Stars family with deepest sympathy in the passing of 'The Old Man'," Kastle wrote in the caption. "I always enjoyed doing shows with him and he was so witty and fun in his frankness about life. Thanks for the good times [...] and we will all miss you!"
Murray SawChuck's memory of Harrison
Celebrity magician Murray SawChuck, who has served as Pawn Stars' expert on antique magic devices and has hosted numerous live Pawn Stars tour events, went on Instagram to share a photo of himself and Harrison, remembering the Old Man as nothing but incredible.
"Sad news about my friend and Pawn Star 'The Old Man' passing away this morning," said SawChuck. "We will miss you! Such a great man!"
The History Channel pays tribute to one of its stars
Shortly after news of Harrison's passing was made public, the History Channel shared a heartfelt tweet remembering the Old Man and everything he meant to those he worked with.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Richard 'The Old Man' Harrison, a beloved member of the HISTORY and @pawnstars family," the official History Twitter account shared in the caption of a photo of Harrison, shown above. "He will be greatly missed for his wisdom and candor. Our thoughts are with the Harrison family during this difficult time."
History UK offers condolences from across the pond
The History Channel UK posted the same message to its Twitter page, but attached a different photo of Harrison alongside it. The snap, seen above, features Harrison sitting inside the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. Like its sister network, History UK wished Harrison's family and friends hope and healing as they grieve the loss of their father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and close pal.
Gold & Silver Pawn Shop honors its founder
From the store that spawned a History Channel flagship series and an adoring global fan base came a post that perfectly summed up Harrison's often cantankerous — but forever caring — attitude. The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop Facebook page shared a photo of Harrison and a message that acknowledged his death and honored the man he was.
"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," the post reads. "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."