Richard Harrison of ‘Pawn Stars’ Dead at 77

Richard Harrison, known as “The Old Man” on History Channel's “Pawn Stars,” has died. He was 77.

His son, Rick Harrison, told TMZ that he passed away after a battle with Parkinson's disease.

Rick added, '''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,” he said.

Corey Harrison, Richard's grandson and "Pawn Star" co-star, posted a tribute on Instagram. He wrote, "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. He will be missed everyday at this time we thank you for all of the kind words and we ask for privacy as we mourn his passing.

The History Channel also released a statement on Twitter: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Richard 'The Old Man' Harrison, a beloved member of the HISTORY and @pawnstars family. He will be greatly missed for his wisdom and candor. Our thoughts are with the Harrison family during this difficult time.”

Richard and Rick opened the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas in 1989. They found fame in 2009 when the 24-hour operation became the focus of the “Pawn Stars” reality show.

Richard has been largely absent from the show in recent seasons, while son Rick and grandson Corey continued to run the shop.