![]() In the 1990s, he achieved prominence for his role as Philip Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a character that was ranked number 34 in TV Guide 's "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time". Career Īvery began his career in the 1980s with appearances in television series such as NBC's Hill Street Blues, Showtime sitcom Brothers as Bubba Dean, Amen, FM and L.A. He won an Emmy for production during his tenure there, and then received a scholarship to UC San Diego, where he attended Thurgood Marshall College (then Third College), earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and literature in 1976. Navy in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969, and eventually moved to San Diego, California, where he began to write poetry and TV scripts for PBS. Florence would eventually move James to Atlantic City, New Jersey. His father denied paternity and was not listed on his birth certificate. Crippen on The Closer (2005–2007).Īvery was born on November 27, 1945, in Pughsville, Virginia, to mother Florence J. Law, Steve Yeager in The Brady Bunch Movie, Haroud Hazi Bin in Aladdin, and Dr. He was best known for his roles as Philip Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Judge Michael Conover on L.A. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Barbara Avery his mother, Florence Avery of Atlantic City and a stepson, Kevin Waters.ĬNN’s Todd Leopold contributed to this story.James La Rue Avery (Novem– December 31, 2013) was an American actor. “You can either be a movie star or an actor. ![]() In a 2007 interview with the New York Film Academy, he was forthright about his abilities. As Banks, a former civil rights activist and Harvard Law-trained attorney, Avery provided a role model for Smith’s sometimes wild character.Īvery, too, leveled with youthful audiences, noting in “Unscripted” that he left home at 18 because “I had too good a time.” The show, co-executive produced by Quincy Jones and created by Andy Borowitz and Susan Borowitz, cast Smith – then best known as a rapper – as a Philadelphia teenager who is sent to live with his wealthy Los Angeles relatives. He most recently appeared in Zach Braff’s new film, “Wish I Was Here,” which will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this month.īut his most famous role was on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which aired from 1990 to 1996. His voice roles included Shredder in the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series and James “Rhodey” Rhodes in the 1990s animated series version of “Iron Man.” Indeed, with his deep, mellifluous voice, he frequently played judges, professors and doctors – Uncle Phil began as a lawyer and eventually became a judge – and was much in demand as a voice actor. “I knew I loved the arts,” Avery said in an interview for the show “Unscripted.” “I knew I wanted to be a writer, but the theater was something I had been involved in before.”Īvery appeared in multiple TV shows and movies, including “CSI,” “That ’70s Show,” “The Closer” and several appearances as a judge on “L.A. Before joining the military, he once said, he had dreams of being like Richard Wright and living in Paris. “Fresh Prince” co-star Alfonso Ribeiro tweeted news of Avery’s passing.Ī biography provided by his manager said that after he served in the military, Avery moved to San Diego, California, where he began writing TV scripts and poetry for PBS. “What he has done for television, for African-Americans on television is unsurpassable.” “He strove to present an Uncle Phil that everybody wishes was their uncle,” Marcell said.Īvery believed the show was important because the “striving of the African-American ought to have been shown on television,” Marcell said. “Fresh Prince” co-star Joseph Marcell, who played the family butler Geoffrey, told CNN that Avery was “a marvelous man and a truly wonderful actor.”Īvery played Philip Banks, the stern but loving uncle to Will Smith’s character on the show. Avery had surgery on November 11 and died Tuesday evening at a hospital in Glendale, California, according to Benson. The cause of death was complications from open-heart surgery, said his manager, Toni Benson. Actor James Avery, who played the beloved Uncle Phil on the hit 1990s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” has died, his publicist said Wednesday.
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