As fans of “Pawn Stars” come together, the world is sending love and support to Rick Harrison, the cherished figure from the reality TV show. Tragically, Rick has experienced yet another profound loss with the passing of his dear mother, Joanne Harrison, at the age of 85, just a year and a half following the death of his son, Adam.
Grieving Dear Ones
Joanne Harrison passed away while in a hospital in Las Vegas, which was confirmed by Rick’s representative, Laura Herlovich. “Rick is handling things privately,” she mentioned. At 60 years old, Rick finds solace in privacy as he mourns the loss of those closest to him—his mother and son.
Adam, one of Rick’s three sons, sadly died on January 19, 2024, at the young age of 39. The cause of Adam’s tragic death was determined by the Las Vegas coroner to be due to accidental fentanyl and methamphetamine toxicity.
Addressing the Overdose
When the heartbreaking news became public, Rick confirmed to TMZ: “Yes, I can confirm Adam died from a fentanyl overdose. The fentanyl crisis in this country must be taken more seriously. It seems it is just flowing over the borders and nothing is being done about it. We must do better.”
Rick also shared heartfelt sentiments on Instagram, expressing his enduring love for Adam by saying, “You will always be in my heart! I love you Adam.” This message resonated deeply with his audience, who stood by him in the wake of his sorrow.
Reflecting further during an interview on In Depth with Graham Bessinger, Rick shared the ongoing heartache that comes with losing his son. “I think about him every day,” Rick confessed. “In his 20s, he had drug problems; I tried to help by putting him in rehab several times. It always seemed to work for a while before he relapsed. This time, it was fentanyl that claimed his life.”
Recalling His Father
The challenges brought by Adam’s death have changed Rick’s perspective on life profoundly. “When you lose a child, you start to question everything you did,” Rick expressed. “There’s not a day that passes I don’t think about him and wonder if I could have done something differently.”
The pain of loss is, unfortunately, not new to Rick. Back in 2018, his father, Richard “Old Man” Harrison, who endeared many viewers on Pawn Stars, died from Parkinson’s disease complications.
Rick paid tribute to his father through a poignant Instagram post, praising the fulfilling life he led and his impactful presence on the show, which brought joy and knowledge to countless folks.
As Rick confronts these fresh sorrows, fans are reaching out with love and empathy. For a man who has brought history, humor, and warmth to so many viewers, the world shares in his grief and assures him that he does not stand alone.
