James Avery was a very talented actor. Although he had quite a diverse and extensive career, fans will mostly remember him for his 2 roles: Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Shredder on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But what do we know about his life?

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James Avery’s career

James Avery had an interesting life. He worked his way to the top with the support of his beloved mother, who raised him by herself in New Jersey. Avery served to his country during the Vietnam War but when he returned home, he decided to try himself in the showbiz.

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James moved to San Diego and started working as a writer and a poet for PBS. But the talented man also wanted to branch out into acting. His most memorable screen appearances include movies and TV shows, like:

• The Brady Bunch Movie;
• Aladdin;
• Sparks;
• The Closer;
• L.A. Law;
• CSI;
• That ’70s Show.

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Avery’s talent didn’t only limit to sitcoms, he also landed his trademark deep voice to a number of animated TV series.

He is no longer with us

The legendary actor, sadly, left this planet. He passed away on New Year’s Eve in 2013 at 68 years old. According to CNN, the cause of his death was linked to complications that emerged after an open-heart surgery he had a month earlier.

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He passed at the hospital, leaving his wife, Barbara, alone. The couple didn’t have any kids together but James became a stepfather to his wife’s son, Kevin. It’s believed that Barbara didn’t leave James’ bedside but when she left the room for a short time to get some food, he took his last breath.

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Even though James Avery is not with us anymore, he left a big mark in the TV industry and his work became his legacy that will continue to live for years to come.