[ 2014-01-02 ]

James Avery appeared in 141 episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

'Fresh Prince' actor Avery dies
The American actor James Avery has died aged 65,
his publicist has said.

He was best known for his role as Phil Banks in US
television series The Fresh Prince of Bel Air with
Will Smith.

His fellow cast member in the show Alfonso
Ribeiro, who played his son Carlton, tweeted: "I'm
deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed
away.

"He was a second father to me. I will miss him
greatly."

The actor appeared in a number of films and TV
shows including Gray's Anatomy and Star Trek:
Enterprise.

He hosted TV programme Going Places, and provided
voice-overs in animated TV series Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles and Iron Man.

But he was best known for his portrayal of the
judge and patriarch 'Uncle Phil' in 1990s sitcom
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

He appeared in 141 episodes of the programme
alongside his on-screen nephew, Will Smith, and
was reunited with most of the cast at a charity
event two years ago.

Avery's publicist, Cynthia Snyder, told The
Associated Press that Avery died on Tuesday in
Glendale, California, following complications from
open-heart surgery.

Avery served in Vietnam in the US Navy from 1968
to 1969, before he began writing TV scripts and
poetry for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).


He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Barbara,
his mother, Florence Avery, and his step-son,
Kevin Waters.

Avery had been working until September this year
on the Zach Braff film Wish I Was Here, which will
premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this
month.

Ms Snyder said plans were being made for a
memorial service.

Source - BBC

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