Better known as The Old Man, RichardBenjamin Harrison Jr. is a business mogul and reality TV star. The former US Navy veteran was given the nickname ‘Old Man’ at the age of 38. He was best known for appearing alongside members of his family on the hit television series Pawn Stars, a reality series based on their family business, World Paw Shop Gold & Silver.In 2012, Richard “Old Man” Harrison was nominated for the Time 100 list alongside his son and Pawn Shop co-owner Rick Harrison.
Richard “Old Man” Harrison
Old Man aka Richard Benjamin Harrison Jr. was born on March 4, 1941, in Danville, Virginia. When he was barely a year old, his family moved to Lexington, North Carolina, where he was raised. Harrison was educated in high school at Lexington High School, a stark contrast to what his family has become today. He was brought up in a very poor home. Therefore, in order to support his family, he worked as a school bus driver during his teenage years for which he earned around five or six dollars a week.
In 1960, Richard Harrison Jr. was arrested for auto theft, however, he chose to join the military in order to avoid prison. He eventually spent 20 years in the United States Navy and upon retirement he became a real estate agent, after which he became a businessman and eventually became a world television star.
Family
Richard “Old Man” Harrison was married to his high school wife of almost 59 years, JoAnne Rhue. On July 7, 1959, the couple tied the knot and met as teenagers the year before. While Harrison was in the U.S. Navy, his wife Joanne earned her realtor’s license and later started her own practice in 1973. After retiring from the military, Harrison joined his wife in the real estate business , working part-time. The couple had 3 children together; his daughter Sherry and his sons Joseph, Rick and Chris. However, the family lost their daughter Sherry when she was just 6 years old.
Back in 1989, the old man’s son Ricka established a 24-hour family business, known today as the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. 20 years after its inception, the Pawn Shop has been transformed into a full-fledged reality show Pawn Stars on the History Channel. The show, which debuted on July 26, 2009, chronicles the day-to-day events of the famed Pawn Shop Gold & Silver, as well as the interpersonal conflicts between the cast.
Pawn Stars was an instant hit becoming the highest rated program on the History Channel within the first 10 weeks. The series’ popularity has also had a positive impact on the family’s business, as their customer base has increased tenfold. Pawn Stars was also ranked as the second highest rated reality show on television and its success has been sustained for almost a decade. The company was originally run by the old man, his son Rick Harrison, his grandson (Rick’s son) Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison, and Corey’s childhood friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell . On the Pawn Stars Richard Harrison Jr. was known for taking on the “grumpy, mean old man” persona which appealed to fans around the world.
In March 2012, Richard “Old Man” Harrison, alongside his Pawn Stars costars, was given the key to the city of LasVegas by then-Mayor Oscar Goodman. He was also presented with the key to his hometown of Lexington by then-Mayor Clark Newell on May 29, 2012, a day that has been officially recognized as “Richard Harrison Day”.
What happened to the old man on the stars for hire?
The Old Man on Pawn Stars died in June 2018 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. In his later years, the Pawn Stars patriarch had to greatly cut back on his appearance on the show due to his battle with illness. He died on June 25, 2018 at age 77, at his Las Vegas residence, surrounded by his loved ones and family. Due to his 20 years of military service, the old man had his casket draped in the United States flag at his funeral on July 1 and was also sent off with a ceremonial rifle salute.