‘Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison Undergoes Emergency Heart Surgery

A routine stent procedure became scary for Rick's family when doctors discovered the reality TV star needed an emergency bypass.

By JJ Flowers

'Pawn Stars' Rick Harrison Undergoes Emergency Heart Surgery - YouTube

Pawn Stars star Rick Harrison underwent emergency bypass surgery after doctors discovered that he needed more than the relatively minor procedure they had initially planned. The 61-year-old is now recovering. Read on for more details.

Routine Procedure Became An Emergency 

People reported that the unexpected health scare happened when Harrison went into the hospital for what was expected to be a relatively simple stent procedure. However, doctors discovered a more serious problem.

The outlet cited a Harrison family spokesperson who confirmed, “He went in for a simpler procedure and they found he needed a bypass.”

Doctors quickly changed their approach and performed emergency bypass surgery to restore blood flow to his heart. Fortunately, Harrison is expected to make a full recovery and is reportedly receiving excellent medical care.

Rick Harrison Is Resting Comfortably

Fans of the History Channel show found some humor in the frightening news, but the most important update is that Harrison “is resting comfortably.”

His new wife, Angie Polushkin, has also been supporting him during his recovery. The couple recently tied the knot in Las Vegas. Entertainment Weekly reported that they later held “an official ceremony at Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun on Jan. 26.”

At the time, Rick said that he was “happier than I’ve ever been.”

A Difficult Year For The Harrison Family

It has been a difficult year for the Harrison family. In January, Rick’s son and Pawn Stars co-star, Corey Harrison, ended up in the hospital after a motorcycle accident in Mexico.

Corey’s injuries, which reportedly included 11 broken ribs, meant that he missed his dad’s wedding. Later, some people criticized a fundraiser that asked fans to help with his medical bills.

Fans Turn Surgery Into A Pawn Stars Episode

Over on Reddit, fans couldn’t resist imagining Rick’s hospital stay as part of a Pawn Stars episode.

One contributor on the r/television subreddit joked that Rick might have said, “Listen, I got a buddy who knows a thing or two about coronary arteries. Let me give him a call and get him over here so we can figure out how much I gotta pay you.”

Redditors turn the news into an imaginary episode - rtelevision - reddit
Redditors turn the news into an imaginary episode – r/television – reddit

Others joined in. Another contributor imagined Corey announcing, “Alright, listen up. Rick’s in the hospital. Emergency bypass. They’re saying he pulled through, but he’s out for a while. Shop still has to run.”

Meanwhile, Chumlee would probably start talking about a Rolex deal gone bad.

Pawn Stars has been on hiatus, but fans can expect it to return to the History Channel sometime next year. Hopefully, Rick will have made a full recovery by then and will be ready to start wheeling and dealing again.

Share your thoughts in the comments below, and come back here for more news and updates about your favorite reality TV celebrities.

JJ Flowers

With over two decades of writing and editing experience since 2001, I enjoy bringing an investigative lens to storytelling and visual journalism. My early career was in the fields of law enforcement, prosecution, and a security background that helps my analytical approach, attention to detail, and passion for investigative reporting.

As a media professional, my expertise bridges multiple creative disciplines. I am a freelance journalist, a self-published author, and a licensed professional photographer. To complement my practical field experience, I studied line management, human communications, and travel writing and photography.