Uncle Phil Remembered By Those He Knew Best: Actor James Avery Dead

Actor James Avery, the man who starred as the beloved Uncle Phillip Banks on the 90's sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bell Air, has passed away. A classically trained actor with over 170 screen credits to his name, Avery was more than just the man behind Uncle Phil, as the outpouring of grief that has followed the announcement of his death goes some way towards explaining.

Avery leaves behind a lasting legacy

His role as family patriarch and determined attorney (and later judge) on Fresh Prince won him many fans and admirers, but Avery's talents stretched well beyond that one popular character. His distinguished voiced lent him a career as a successful voice artist, supplying the voice of War Machine in the 90's animated series of Iron Man, a variety of voices for the movie The Prince of Egypt and most notably for his role as Shredder in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. His further acting roles saw him appear on both film and television, with noted appearances in That 70's Show, My Wife and Kids, Dr Dolittle 2, Jake and the Fatman and The Brady Bunch Movie. His final role was in the upcoming Zach Braff film Wish I Was Here, which will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this year.

James Avery was a very funny and smart man. He did a cameo as a favor to me in WIWH and had the entire set rolling with laughter. RIP.

— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) January 1, 2014

Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on 27 November, 1945, Avery was a classically trained actor and lent himself to a number of stage productions before and during his move to screen acting. He had previously served in the military and was deployed in Vietnam from 1968-69. He had long harboured dreams of being an accomplished writer and regularly composed poetry, although it was whilst trying to make it as a scriptwriter that he became involved with acting and his true vocation was found.

Avery passed away from complications cause by open heart surgery at a Los Angeles hospital on 31 December, 2013, after a prolonged battle with his health. He is survived by his wife Barbara, who he married in 1988, and although he had no children of his own, he was a stepfather to his wife's son, Kevin Waters. He is also survived by his mother Florence.

Next page: James Avery is remembered by those who knew and loved him

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The news of his passing has been met with an outpouring of grief from fans, friends and co-workers alike, with his Fresh Prince co-stars leading the way in with their own tributes for the actor. Joseph Marcell, who portrayed Geoffrey the family butler on the show, told CNN that Avery was "a marvelous man and a truly wonderful actor."

I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly. pic.twitter.com/UrW0EeBFbO

— Alfonso Ribeiro (@alfonso_ribeiro) January 1, 2014

"He strove to present an Uncle Phil that everybody wishes was their uncle," Marcell continued. "What he has done for television, for African-Americans on television is unsurpassable."

He was also fondly remembered by his co-stars Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks, and Tatyana Ali, who played his youngest daughter Ashley Banks, who tweeted, "James was my teacher my protector & the most magnificent actor. We're feeling his loss very deeply. He'll always be apart of me."

R.I.P. James Avery

— Craig Robinson (@MrCraigRobinson) January 2, 2014

Jada Pinkett Smith, wife of Will Smith, wrote her and her husband's condolences to Avery on Wednesday (1 Jan.) on her verified Facebook page. She wrote, "James Avery who we all lovingly know as Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince has passed. Our condolences to aunt Florence (his mother), Miss Barbara (his wife) and all those who loved him."

James Avery: 1945 - 2013