James Avery ( actor ) - wikipedia James Avery ( actor ) James Avery James Avery at the HAL Awards in September 2013 James LaRue Avery ( 1945 - 11 - 27 ) November 27, 1945 Suffolk, Virginia, U.S. December 31, 2013 ( 2013 - 12 - 31 ) ( aged 68 ) Glendale, California, U.S. Cause of death Complications from open heart surgery Occupation Actor comedian poet Years active 1980 -- 2013 Spouse ( s ) Barbara Avery ( m. 1988 ) James LaRue Avery ( November 27, 1945 -- December 31, 2013 ) was an American actor, comedian, voice over artist and poet. A prolific television actor, he is best remembered for his portrayal of patriarch Philip Banks in the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air. His voice acting work was mostly in animated series. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Filmography 6 Television 7 Video games 8 References 9 External links Early LIFE Avery was born in Suffolk, Virginia on November 27, 1945 and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He served in the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Navy from 1968 -- 1969, after graduating high school. Later on, he moved to San Diego, California, where he began to write poetry and TV scripts for PBS. 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. Career Avery began his career in the 1980s, with appearances in television series such as Amen, FM and L.A. Law. In the 1990s, he achieved prominence for his role as Phillip 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. '' He played the lead role of Alonzo Sparks in the 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. He also provided the voice of Junkyard Dog in Hulk Hogan 's Rock ' n ' Wrestling ( 1985 - 86 ), 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. Personal LIFE In 1988, Avery married Barbara. He had no children of his own, but was a stepfather to his wife 's son, Kevin Waters. Death On December 31, 2013, Avery died aged 68, from complications following open heart surgery at Glendale Memorial Medical Center. He was survived by his mother, Florence Avery ( 1924 -- 2016 ), as well as his wife and stepson. Janet Hubert, who portrayed his original on - screen wife Vivian on The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air, said after his death, `` RIP James, all the world is a stage, and we are all merely players in this production called LIFE. '' Will Smith commented on Avery 's death by 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. '' Joseph Marcell called Avery a `` gentle giant. '' The song `` No Role Modelz '' from 2014 Forest Hills Drive by J. Cole pays tribute to Avery. It contains the lyric `` First things first rest in peace Uncle Phil. For real, you the only father that I ever knew. '' Avery 's remains were later cremated and scattered near the Pacific Ocean. Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1980 The Blues Brothers Man Dancing Uncredited role 1980 The Stunt Man Uncredited role 1985 Fletch Detective # 2 1985 Appointment With Fear Connors 1986 Fist of the North Star Fang Voice role ( 1991 Streamline Pictures dub ) 1986 The Eleventh Commandment Larry 1986 8 Million Ways to Die Deputy D.A. 1986 The Ladies Club Joe 1986 Stoogemania Gulch 1986 Extremities Security Guard - 1987 `` Timestalkers '' Blacksmith Deadly Daphne 's Revenge Det. Wood Three for the Road Clarence Nightflyers Darryl 1988 License to Drive Les ' DMV Examiner 1991 The Linguini Incident Phil 1991 Beastmaster 2 : Through the Portal of Time Lt. Coberly 1991 Shout Midnight Rider Voice role 1993 Little Miss Millions Agent Noah Hollander 1995 The Brady Bunch Movie Mr. Steve Yeager 1997 Spirit Lost Dr. Glidden 1998 12 Bucks Slow 1998 The Prince of Egypt Additional Voices Voice role 1999 After Romeo 1999 Out in Fifty Cappy 2000 Dancing in September Mr. Warner 2001 Chasing Sunsets Mr. Burken 2001 Honeybee Larry Dukes 2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Eldon 2002 Wheelmen Vice President Raise Your Voice Mr. Gantry Hair Show Seymour Gold 2005 Lethal Eviction Gus 2005 The Third Wish George 2005 A Christmas Wish Saint Short film 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 film 2008 Leave with It Dr. Leon Short film 2009 Let the Game Begin Mark Hanley 2009 Steppin : The Movie The Chancellor Stride George The Grind Modelo Snipes 2012 Valediction Edward Short film 2014 Wish I Was Here Audition actor # 2 Avery 's last performance in a film Television Year Title Role Notes Antony and Cleopatra Mardian TV movie Tales of the Gold Monkey Gabriel Episode : `` God Save the Queen '' Newhart Construction Guy Episode : `` Heaven Knows Mr. Utley '' 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 ) 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 Movie Hank Dudney TV movie 1986 Condor Cas TV movie 1986 Sunday Drive Oliver TV movie 1986 − 1989 The Real Ghostbusters Killerwatt / Judge / Additional voices 3 episodes 1986 − 1988, 1989 Amen Arnie Samples / Rev. Crawford 5 episodes Jake 's M.O. Abel Barnes Unsold pilot / TV movie Timestalkers Blacksmith TV movie 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 Roc Dale Hammers Episode : `` The Car Accident from Heaven '' 1993 Without Warning : Terror in the Towers Fred Ferby TV movie 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 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 '' Gargoyles The Shaman ( voice ) Episode : `` Walk About '' Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys Gor - illa / Gor ( voice ) 26 episodes 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 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 − 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 That ' 70s Show Officer Kennedy 3 episodes Charmed Zola Episode : `` A Call to Arms '' NYPD Blue Steve Pines Episode : `` Great Balls or Ire '' Girlfriends Dr. Couch Episode : `` Maybe Baby '' 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 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 Television film ; segment : `` Eddie '' 2013 Hunt for the Labyrinth Killer Judge Parsons TV movie Video games Year Title Role Notes 1989 Splash Mountain Br'er Frog 1995 Animated Storybook : The Lion King Narrator 2011 Kinect Disneyland Adventures Br'er Bear References Jump up ^ Keepnews, Peter ( January 1, 2014 ). `` James Avery, ' Fresh Prince ' Actor, Dies at 68 ''. The New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2014. Jump up ^ `` James Avery, Uncle on `` Fresh Prince, '' Dead at 68 ``. NBC Los Angeles. January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Messer, Lesley ( January 1, 2014 ). `` ' Fresh Prince ' Star James Avery Died at 68 ''. Retrieved January 1, 2014. Jump up ^ 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 7 March 2014. Jump up ^ Heigl, Alex ( January 2, 2014 ). `` Watch James Avery Talk About Voicing Shredder in the Ninja Turtles Cartoon ''. Retrieved November 14, 2015. Jump up ^ `` James Avery ''. Retrieved January 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Fresh Prince of Bel - Air - James Avery as Philip Banks ''. TBS. Retrieved January 1, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Uncle Phil : Fresh Prince Star James Avery Dies ''. Sky News. January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Respers France, Lisa ( January 1, 2014 ). `` James Avery, star of ' The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air, ' dies at 68 ''. CNN. Retrieved January 1, 2014. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ James Avery Dead Jump up ^ Will Smith breaks silence on James Avery 's death External links James Avery on IMDb James Avery at AllMovie The HistoryMakers Biography, photos and video clips VIAF : 46392657 LCCN : no99016427 ISNI : 0000 0001 1491 1356 BNF : cb15034021d ( data ) NLA : 42591400 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Avery_(actor)&oldid=808523753 '' Categories : 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 military 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 Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from January 2015 Articles with hCards Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with NLA identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Aragonés Asturianu Azərbaycanca Bosanski Brezhoneg Català Čeština Corsu Cymraeg Dansk Deitsch Deutsch Eesti Español فارسی Français Frysk 𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌹𐍃𐌺 한국어 Ido Igbo Italiano Kernowek Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Occitan Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Piemontèis Polski Português Русский Scots Shqip Simple English Suomi Svenska Tagalog Türkçe Walon Winaray Yorùbá 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 3 November 2017, at 11 : 02. 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Question: who died from fresh prince of bel air
Answer: James LaRue Avery