James Avery, the much
loved patriarch in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has died aged 68.
The versatile actor
played Uncle Phil to Will Smith's Philly newcomer in the beloved show from 1990
to 1996 and worked on a number of TV and film projects up until he fell ill
this year.
TMZ reported that the
actor died suddenly in an Los Angeles hospital on New Year's Eve from
complications following open heart surgery.
Daily Mail
Avery, who also suffered
from diabetes, had recently undergone surgery for an undisclosed illness and
took a turn for the worse late on Tuesday.
They added that his
wife of 15 years, Barbara, had briefly left his bedside to get food when he
passed away.
His mother Florence
Avery told the New York Daily News: 'It breaks my heart. My child
was a great person who helped anyone he could. He was really just a nice person
whose great passion in life was reading.'
Alfonso Ribeiro, who
played Avery's on-screen son Carlton on the show, 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.'
Jada Pinkett Smith,
wife of the show's leading man Will, wrote on Facebook: 'Happy New Year
everyone! I was hoping to start the new year differently but we have lost yet
another friend. James Avery who we all lovingly know as Uncle Phil from The
Fresh Prince has passed.
Last
appearance: Avery attended the Heroes and Legends Foundation's Awards in
Beverly Hills in September
'Our condolences to
aunt Florence (his mother), Miss Barbara (his wife) and all those who loved
him. Rest in peace James.'
And Tatyana Ali, who
played James' on-screen daughter Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince, also paid
tribute to the late star for being her 'protector.'
She wrote on Twitter:
'James was my teacher my protector & the most magnificent actor. We're
feeling his loss very deeply. He'll always be a part of me #JamesAvery (sic).'
His Fresh Prince
character, Philip Banks, was ranked #34 in TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Dads of
All Time.
He also provided the
voice of Shredder in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television
series, as well as War Machine in the animated series Iron Man and Junkyard Dog
in Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling.
Avery also played
Michael Kelso's commanding officer at the police academy late in the series run
of the popular sitcom That '70s Show.
He last filmed in Zach
Braff's upcoming film Wish I Was Here last September.
The former Scrubs star
paid tribute to the actor, tweeting: '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.'
Avery, who was born in
Atlantic City, New Jersey, recently filmed Valediction and stared in Grey's
Anatomy.
The Vietnam War
veteran lived in Longport, New Jersey.
Daily Mail
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