James Avery of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dead at 68

James Avery of ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” dead at 68

Avery, best known for his role as Uncle Phil on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and as the voice of Shredder in the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” TV series died Dec. 31.

James Avery, best known for his role as Uncle Phil alongside a young Will Smith in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," died Tuesday following complications from surgery, according to media reports. He was 68.

In “Fresh Prince,” Avery played Philip Banks, the uncle of Smith’s character. Banks is a successful lawyer with whom his nephew is sent to live because of crime in his native Philadelphia neighborhood.

During the show’s first year, The Washington Post’s Donna Britt wrote that the cast of “Fresh Prince” managed a genuine portrayal of African-American experience:

Avery also appeared in “Grey’s Anatomy,” “NYPD Blue,” “Dallas,” and “That ’70s Show,” as well as in many films. He was also a prolific voice actor and read Shredder’s lines in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

Avery was born in Virginia and raised in Atlantic City, and served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He is survived by his mother, Florence J. Avery, and his wife, Barbara.

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