James Avery
James Avery | |
---|---|
![]() Avery in 2001 | |
Born | James LaRue Avery November 27, 1945 Suffolk, Virginia, U.S. |
Died | December 31, 2013 Glendale, California, U.S. | (aged 68)
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1980–2013 |
Spouse |
Barbara Avery (m. 1988) |
James LaRue Avery (November 27, 1945 – December 31, 2013) was an American actor, voice actor, and poet. He was best known for his roles as Philip Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Steve Yeager in The Brady Bunch Movie, and Haroud Hazi Bin in Aladdin.
Early life
Avery was born on November 27, 1945 in Pughsville, Virginia (now part of Suffolk, Virginia), but was raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[1][2] He served in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969,[3] and eventually moved to San Diego, California, where he began to write poetry and TV scripts for PBS.[3]. 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.[4]
Career
Avery 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. Law. In the 1990s, he achieved prominence for his role as Philip Banks (Uncle Phil) in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a character that was ranked #34 in TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time." After The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ended, he played the lead role of Alonzo Sparks in the UPN comedy series Sparks that lasted for two seasons. Other notable roles in television included Dr. Crippen in The Closer, Charles Haysbert in The Division, and Michael Kelso's commanding officer at the police academy late in the series run of That '70s Show.
Among his most notable voice credits are the voices of Shredder in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, and James Rhodes/War Machine in the 1990s Iron Man series.[5] He also provided the voice of Junkyard Dog in Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling (1985–1986), Turbo in Rambo and the Forces of Freedom (1986), and Haroud Hazi Bin in Aladdin (1994).
Avery was the commencement speaker for his alma mater, UC San Diego's Thurgood Marshall College in 2007, and again in 2012.[6] In 1995 he appeared in The Brady Bunch Movie.
Personal life
In 1988, Avery married his wife Barbara.[7] Barbara was dean of student life at Loyola Marymount University.[8] He had no biological children, but was a stepfather to Barbara's son, Kevin Waters.[9]
Death
On December 31, 2013, Avery died at the age of 68 from complications following open heart surgery at Glendale Memorial Medical Center.[3][10][11][12][13]
Janet Hubert, who portrayed his on-screen wife Vivian on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for the first three seasons, said after his death "RIP James, all the world is a stage, and we are all merely players in this production called LIFE."[14] Will Smith commented on Avery's death, saying, "Some of my greatest lessons in acting, living, and being a respectable human being came through James Avery. Every young man needs an Uncle Phil. Rest in peace."[15] Joseph Marcell called Avery a "gentle giant."[11]
Avery's remains were cremated and scattered near the Pacific Ocean.[16]
In April 2020, Will Smith reunited the cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air on a video conference honoring Avery's best moments on the show.[17][18]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | The Stunt Man | Man Playing Pinball | Uncredited |
1980 | The Blues Brothers | Man Dancing | Uncredited |
1985 | Fletch | Detective #2 | |
1985 | Appointment with Fear | Connors | |
1985 | Stoogemania | Gulch | |
1986 | Fist of the North Star[19] | Fang | Voice, (1991 Streamline Pictures dub) |
1986 | The Eleventh Commandment | Larry | |
1986 | 8 Million Ways to Die | Deputy D.A. | |
1986 | The Ladies Club | Joe | |
1986 | Extremities | Security Guard | |
1987 | Three for the Road | Clarence | |
1987 | Nightflyers | Darryl | |
1987 | Deadly Daphne's Revenge | Det. Wood | |
1987 | Jake's M.O. | Abel Barnes | |
1988 | License to Drive | Les' DMV Examiner | |
1991 | Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time | Lt. Coberly | |
1991 | Shout | Midnight Rider | Voice |
1991 | The Linguini Incident | Phil | |
1993 | Little Miss Millions | Agent Noah Hollander | |
1995 | The Brady Bunch Movie | Steve Yeager | |
1997 | Spirit Lost | Dr. Glidden | |
1998 | 12 Bucks | Slow | |
1998 | The Prince of Egypt[19] | Additional Characters | Voice |
1999 | Out in Fifty | Cappy | |
1999 | After Romeo | ||
2000 | Dancing in September | Mr. Warner | |
2001 | Honeybee | Larry Dukes | |
2001 | Dr. Dolittle 2 | Eldon | |
2001 | Chasing Sunsets | Mr. Burken | |
2004 | Raise Your Voice | Mr. Gantry | |
2004 | Hair Show | Seymour Gold | |
2005 | Lethal Eviction | Gus Winter | |
2005 | The Third Wish | George | |
2005 | Wheelmen | Vice President | |
2005 | A Christmas Wish | Saint | Short |
2006 | Restraining Order | Judge Sanderson | |
2006 | Think Tank | Uncle John | |
2006 | Danika | Teddy Johnson | |
2007 | Who's Your Caddy? | Caddy Mack | |
2007 | Divine Intervention | Rev. Matthews | |
2008 | His Good Will | Mr. Cooper | Short |
2008 | Leave with It | Dr. Leon | Short |
2009 | Steppin: The Movie | The Chancellor | |
2010 | Let the Game Begin | Mark Hanley | |
2010 | Stride | George | |
2010 | The Grind | Modelo Snipes | |
2012 | Valediction | Edward | Short |
2014 | Wish I Was Here | Audition actor #2 | Final role |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | Antony and Cleopatra | Mardian | TV movie |
1983 | Tales of the Gold Monkey | Gabriel | Episode: "God Save the Queen" |
1983 | Newhart | Construction Guy | Episode: "Heaven Knows Mr. Utley" |
1983 | The Jeffersons | Coleman | Episode: "Father Christmas" |
1983-1984 | Simon & Simon | Huey, Roy | 2 episodes |
1984 | Hill Street Blues | Tolliver | 3 episodes |
1984 | Legmen | No Neck | Episode: "I Shall Be Re-Released" |
1984 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Episode: "Scared Stiff" | |
1984 | Going Bananas | Hank | |
1984 | Webster | Judge | Episode: "Webster Long" (2) |
1984 | Fist of the North Star | Fang | Voice; English dub |
1984 | The Dukes of Hazzard | Charlie | Episode: "Cool Hands, Luke & Bo" |
1984-1985 | Brothers | Bubba Dean | 2 episodes |
1985 | Street Hawk | Councilman Waters | Pilot |
1985 | St. Elsewhere | Mental Patient | Episode: "Give the Boy a Hand" |
1985 | Cagney & Lacey | Episode: "Who Says It's Fair" (1) | |
1985 | Kicks | Stanley | TV movie |
1985 | Space | Jean-Marie | CBS miniseries |
1985 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Nabuti | Episode: "Murder Between Friends" |
1985 | Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling | Junkyard Dog | Voice |
1985 | George Burns Comedy Week | Episode: "The Assignment" | |
1985 | The A-Team | Episode: "The Heart of Rock n' Roll" | |
1985 | Moonlighting | Reuben King | Episode: "Twas the Episode Before Christmas" |
1986 | Karate Kommandos | Additional voices | |
1986 | Amazing Stories | Chief Hansen | Episode: "Hell Toupee" |
1986 | Rambo and the Forces of Freedom | Turbo | Voice |
1986 | Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story | Hank Dudney | TV movie |
1986 | Condor | Cas | TV movie |
1986 | Sunday Drive | Oliver | TV movie |
1986-1989 | The Real Ghostbusters | Killerwatt / Judge | Voice, 3 episodes |
1986-1989 | Amen | Arnie Samples / Rev. Crawford | 5 episodes |
1987 | Jake's M.O. | Abel Barnes | Unsold pilot / TV movie |
1987 | Timestalkers | Blacksmith | TV movie |
1987 | Jake and the Fatman | Episode: "Fatal Attraction" | |
1987-1989 | Valerie | Judge N. Keller / Mr. Erdman | 2 episodes |
1987−1993 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Shredder | Voice, 103 episodes |
1988 | Dallas | Judge Fowler | Episode: "Malice in Dallas" |
1988 | Beauty and the Beast | Winslow | |
1988 | 227 | Jo-Jo | Episode: "My Aching Back" |
1988 | Heart and Soul | Harlan Sinclair | Pilot |
1988-1992 | L.A. Law | Judge Michael Conover | 9 episodes |
1989 | Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal | Earl | TV movie |
1989 | Roe vs. Wade | TV movie | |
1989 | FM | Quentin Lamoreaux | TV Series |
1989 | A Different World | The Pin Punisher | Episode: "To Have and Have Not" |
1989 | Turn Back the Clock | Physical Therapist | TV movie |
1990 | Night Court | Judge Hopkins | Episode: "Wedding Bell Blues" (1) |
1990 | Capital News | Pilot | |
1990 | To My Daughter | TV movie | |
1990-1996 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Philip Banks | 148 episodes |
1991 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Shredder | Voice, TV movie |
1991 | The Legend of Prince Valiant | Sir Bryant | Voice, 9 episodes |
1992 | Roc | Dale Hammers | Episode: "The Car Accident from Heaven" |
1993 | Without Warning: Terror in the Towers | Fred Ferby | TV movie |
1993 | Family Matters | Little G's father | Episode: "Scenes from a Mall" |
1993-1994 | American Experience | Charles Hamilton Houston / Narrator | 2 episodes |
1994 | Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die | Chess Player | TV movie |
1994 | A Friend to Die For | Agent Gilwood | TV movie |
1994 | Aladdin | Haroud Hazi Bin | Voice, 9 episodes |
1994-1995 | Iron Man[19] | War Machine | Voice, 7 episodes |
1995 | ABC Weekend Special | Headman | Voice, Episode: "Jirimpimbira – An African Folk Tale" |
1995 | Murder One | Judge Nathaniel Alexander | Episode: "Chapter Five" |
1996 | Gargoyles | The Shaman | Voice, Episode: "Walk About" |
1996 | Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys[19] | Gor-illa/Gor | Voice, 26 episodes |
1996 | Spider-Man | War Machine | Voice, 2 episodes |
1996-1998 | Sparks | Alonzo Sparks | 40 episodes |
1996-1998 | In the House | Mediator / Sampson Stanton | 2 episodes |
1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Father | Voice, Episode: "The Golden Goose" |
1997 | Extreme Ghostbusters | Danny | Voice, Episode: "Dry Spell" |
1998 | The Advanced Guard | Fred | TV movie |
1998 | You Lucky Dog | Calvin Bridges | TV movie |
1998 | The Wild Thornberrys[19] | Gorilla | Voice, Episode: "Valley Girls" |
1999 | Vengeance Unlimited | Judge Christopher Washington | Episode: "Legalese" |
1999 | King's Pawn | Cecil | Pilot |
1999 | Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? | Malcolm Avalon | 2 episodes |
1999 | For Your Love | Rev. Hicks | Episode: "Mother Load" |
1999 | Family Law | Episode: "Damages" | |
1999-2000 | Pepper Ann | Mr. Clapper | 3 episodes |
2000 | Bull | Prof. Gilbert Granville | Episode: "What the Past Will Bring" |
2000 | One World | William Richard | Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" |
2000 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Preston Cash | Episode: "Unfriendly Skies" |
2000 | Two Guys and a Girl | Judge | Episode: "Rescue Me" |
2000-2002 | Dharma & Greg | Walter | 2 episodes |
2001 | Epoch | Dr. Solomon Holt | TV movie |
2001 | The Jamie Foxx Show | Reverend | Episode: "Always and Forever" |
2001 | Strong Medicine | Harold Jenkins | Episode: "Wednesday Night Fever" |
2001 | The Legend of Tarzan | Chief Keewazi | Voice, 3 episodes |
2001 | The Proud Family | Crandall Smythe | Voice, Episode: "Spelling Bee" |
2001-2002 | The Nightmare Room | R.L. Stine | 12 episodes |
2001−2003 | Soul Food | Walter Carter | 4 episodes |
2002 | Philly | Dean Mark Clivner | Episode: "Here Comes the Judge" |
2002 | Judging Amy | Mr. Ruff | Episode: "Damage Control" |
2002 | Nancy Drew | Prof. Shifflin | TV movie |
2002-2003 | The Division | Charles Haysbert | 9 episodes |
2003 | Reba | Judge Samuel Bennett | Episode: "The Feud" |
2003 | Crossing Jordan | Dr. Erkhart | Episode: "Conspiracy" |
2003 | Street Smarts | Contestant | Episode: "May 16, 2003" |
2003 | All About the Andersons | Roscoe | Episode: "Flo's Dream" |
2003-2004 | All of Us | Lucas | 2 episodes |
2004 | That '70s Show | Officer Kennedy | 3 episodes |
2004 | Charmed | Zola | Episode: "A Call to Arms" |
2004 | NYPD Blue | Steve Pines | Episode: "Great Balls or Ire" |
2004 | Girlfriends | Dr. Couch | Episode: "Maybe Baby" |
2004 | That's So Raven | Presto Jones | Episode: "Opportunity Shocks" |
2005-2007 | The Closer | Dr. Crippen | 11 episodes |
2005 | My Wife and Kids | Professor Tillman | Episode: "Study Buddy" |
2005 | Star Trek: Enterprise | General K'Vagh | 2 episodes |
2005 | Living With Fran | Mr. Bryant | Episode: "Learning with Fran" |
2006 | Take 3 | Judge Sanderson | Episode: "Study Buddy" |
2008 | Eli Stone | Mason Andrews | Episode: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" |
2009 | Sherri | Redmond | 4 episodes |
2011 | The Problem Solverz | Go-Seeki Ninja Master / Ninja Master Head | Voice, Episode: "Hide and Seek Ninjaz" |
2012 | Grey's Anatomy | Sam | Episode: "One Step Too Far" |
2012 | The Young and the Restless | Judge Roy Daley | 2 episodes |
2013 | Call Me Crazy: A Five Film | Dr. Beckett | TV movie, segment: "Eddie" |
2013 | Hunt for the Labyrinth Killer | Judge Parsons | TV movie |
2013 | Go, Bolivia, Go! | Commissioner Morocco | TV Movie |
2015 | Da Jammies | Covington | Voice, Episode: "Cello" Posthumous release |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Splash Mountain | Br'er Frog, Br'er Bear | |
1995 | Disney's Animated Storybook: The Lion King[19] | Narrator | |
2006 | Biker Mice from Mars | Cataclysm / Cat Commando | |
2011 | Kinect Disneyland Adventures | Br'er Bear |
References
- ^ Keepnews, Peter (January 1, 2014). "James Avery, 'Fresh Prince' Actor, Dies at 68". The New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
- ^ "James Avery, Uncle on "Fresh Prince," Dead at 68". NBC Los Angeles. January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ a b c Messer, Lesley (January 1, 2014). "'Fresh Prince' Star James Avery Died at 68". Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ Griffin, Jade (February 13, 2014). "Memorial Tribute to Late Actor and UC San Diego Alumnus James Avery Set for March 1". UC San Diego News Center. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ Heigl, Alex (January 2, 2014). "Watch James Avery Talk About Voicing Shredder in the Ninja Turtles Cartoon". Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "James Avery". Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ^ "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - James Avery as Philip Banks". TBS. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: 1990-1996". People.com. 26 June 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/1719768/james-avery-death-reaction/
- ^ "Uncle Phil: Fresh Prince Star James Avery Dies". Sky News. January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ a b Respers France, Lisa (January 1, 2014). "James Avery, star of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' dies at 68". CNN. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ Dillon, Nancy; Margaret Eby; Zayda Rivera (January 1, 2014). "James Avery, Fresh Prince of Bel Air star, dies at 65". Daily News. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "Actor James Avery Passes Away". Anime News Network. January 3, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "James Avery Dead". If You Blinked. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "Will Smith on James Avery Death: 'Every Young Man Needs an Uncle'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ https://www.xonecole.com/photos-fresh-prince-cast-reunite-to-say-final-goodbyes-to-james-avery-uncle-phil/
- ^ Sandra Gonzalez (30 April 2020). ""The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" cast gets emotional watching Uncle Phil's best moments". Cnn.com. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ Christi Carras (1 May 2020). "Will Smith wipes tears while honoring James Avery during 'Fresh Prince' reunion". Detroitnews.com. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/James-Avery/
External links
- James Avery at IMDb
- James Avery at AllMovie
- The HistoryMakers Biography, photos and video clips
- 1945 births
- 2013 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- 20th-century American poets
- African-American male actors
- African-American poets
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- American naval personnel of the Vietnam War
- American television personalities
- American television writers
- Male television writers
- Male actors from New Jersey
- Male actors from Virginia
- People from Atlantic City, New Jersey
- People from Suffolk, Virginia
- United States Navy sailors
- University of California, San Diego alumni
- Virginia State University alumni
- American male poets
- Screenwriters from Virginia
- Screenwriters from New Jersey
- Screenwriters from California