He was the "Old Man." That’s how everyone knew him. Richard Benjamin Harrison didn't need a flashy stage name or a high-energy persona to command a room. He just sat in his chair, leaned back, and stared through those glasses with a look that suggested he’d already seen whatever "rare" junk you were trying to peddle three times before lunch.
When you think about the massive success of Pawn Stars, you might think of Rick’s laugh or Chumlee’s antics. But Richard Harrison was the anchor. Without him, the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop would’ve just been another loud reality TV set. He brought the grit. He brought the Navy discipline. And honestly? He brought the perspective that only comes from living through seventy-odd years of American history.
The Man Before the Cameras
Most people don't realize he wasn't always a "Vegas guy." He was a Navy man through and through. For twenty years, Harrison served his country, reaching the rank of Petty Officer First Class. You can see that military DNA in every episode. He was punctual. He was disciplined. He didn't suffer fools.
He actually moved to Las Vegas after losing a significant amount of money in the real estate market back in North Carolina. It wasn't a glamorous transition. It was a "we need to survive" move. In 1981, he opened the first iteration of the shop with his son, Rick. They started with just a few thousand dollars. Think about that for a second. The global empire we see on History Channel today started because a Navy vet refused to go broke.
Richard Harrison and the Art of the No
Watch any old clip of the Old Man. Notice his eyes. While Rick is busy calculating margins and checking serial numbers, Richard was usually calculating the person. He had this uncanny ability to spot a lie from across the counter.
"I don't want it."
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That was his catchphrase, even if he didn't mean it to be. He wasn't playing a character for the producers. If a guy walked in with a 1960s toy that was clearly a reproduction, Richard didn't give a polite "no thank you." He gave a history lesson wrapped in a grumble. He understood that in the pawn business, your best tool isn't your loupe; it's your intuition.
He was the "King of Quips."
One-liners.
Dry.
Cutting.
Hilarious.
People loved him because he was the grandfather we all either had or wished we had—the one who told you the truth even if it hurt, but you knew he’d have your back in a fight. He once said that his idea of a good vacation was "at the end of the driveway." He was a man of simple tastes: his black Fedora, his coffee, and his 1966 Imperial.
Why Pawn Stars Changed After 2018
When Richard Harrison passed away in June 2018 at the age of 77, the show shifted. It had to. You can't replace a founder. He had been battling Parkinson’s disease, a detail the family kept relatively private until the end, showing that trademark Harrison toughness.
The dynamic changed from a three-generation family struggle to a business legacy show. The tension between the Old Man and Rick was the secret sauce. Rick was the visionary, the guy looking to expand and buy the big-ticket items. Richard was the brake. Every business needs a brake. He kept the shop grounded in the reality of the "everyday" pawn—the small items that keep the lights on.
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The Legacy of the 1966 Imperial
If you want to understand the man, look at his car. The 1966 Chrysler Imperial. The guys spent an entire episode (and a lot of money) restoring it for his 50th wedding anniversary. It was one of the rare times you saw the "Old Man" mask slip. He loved that car not because it was expensive, but because it represented an era of American manufacturing that didn't cut corners.
That was Richard. He didn't cut corners.
What Collectors Can Learn From Him
If you're into the world of memorabilia or just like watching the show, the Old Man actually left behind a lot of practical wisdom. He wasn't just a TV personality; he was a master of the secondary market.
- Trust, but verify. He never took a customer's word for it. Even if they had a "certificate of authenticity," he knew that paper could be faked easier than the item.
- The value is what someone will pay, not what the book says. He was famous for ignoring "appraised values." He cared about "resale value."
- Keep your poker face. He never got excited in front of a seller. The moment you show excitement, you lose your leverage.
- Sentimentality costs money. He often told Rick or Corey that they were paying too much because they "liked" the item. In his world, an item was just a number on a ledger.
Dealing With the Loss
The fans felt it hard. When the show aired its tribute episode, the ratings were staggering. It wasn't just about a TV show ending a chapter; it felt like the end of an era for Las Vegas history. He was a staple of the downtown scene long before the Fremont Street Experience was a neon playground.
His chair remains in the shop. It's a bit of a shrine now. People come from all over the world just to take a photo near where he sat. It’s a testament to the fact that in a world of "influencers" and fake personalities, a grumpy, honest man with a Navy background is the most refreshing thing people can find.
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Honestly, the show is still good. Rick and Corey know their stuff, and Chumlee has grown a lot. But there’s a silence in the room where his grumble used to be. It's a reminder that businesses are built on personalities, not just inventory. Richard Harrison didn't just sell old watches and gold coins; he sold a sense of stability. He was the guy who stayed the same while the world around him went crazy.
If you find yourself in Las Vegas, go to the shop. Don't just look at the items in the cases. Look at the photos on the wall. Look at the way the staff carries themselves. You can still see his influence in the "no-nonsense" way they do business. He taught them that a man's word and his reputation are the only things that don't depreciate over time.
To really honor the legacy of the Old Man, you don't need to buy a rare coin. You just need to follow his lead: show up on time, tell the truth, and don't pay more for something than it's worth just because it has a shiny wrapper.
Check out the official World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop site if you want to see the latest items they’ve brought in, or better yet, go back and watch the early seasons. Watch how he handles a negotiation. It’s a masterclass in human psychology. You’ll see that while he might have been called the Old Man, he was usually the smartest guy in the room.