# James Avery
**James Avery** (full name James La Rue Avery; 1945 or 1948 – December 31, 2013) was an American actor best known for playing Philip Banks, the stern but loving "Uncle Phil," on the NBC sitcom *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*, and for voicing the villain Shredder in the original *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* animated series. He died on December 31, 2013, from complications of open-heart surgery; obituaries gave his age as either 65 or 68, reflecting disagreement over his birth year.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Signature role | Philip Banks ("Uncle Phil"), a lawyer who becomes a judge, on *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (NBC, 1990–1996); he appeared in more than 140 episodes[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery) |
| Voice career | Originated the voice of Shredder in the original *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* series (1987–1993); also voiced roles in *Aladdin*, *Iron Man*, *Gargoyles*, and *The Legend of Tarzan*[2](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-enterprise-guest-star-james-avery-1945-2013) • [1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery) |
| Birth | Born in Virginia and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey; sources give the birth date as 1945 or 1948[2](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-enterprise-guest-star-james-avery-1945-2013) • [3](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/james-avery-star-whose-role-as-uncle-phil-in-the-american-sitcom-the-fresh-prince-of-belair-won-him-fans-worldwide-9035505.html) • [1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery) |
| Death | December 31, 2013, in Glendale, California, from complications of open-heart surgery; age reported as 65[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery) • [4](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-james-avery-20140102-story.html) or 68[2](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-enterprise-guest-star-james-avery-1945-2013) |
| Education and service | Navy service during the Vietnam War; B.A. in drama and literature from the University of California, San Diego[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery) |
| Stage work | Shakespeare roles including Othello at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, where his Othello earned the 2006 NAACP Image Award for Lead Male[5](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/james-avery-miriam-margolyes-33274/) • [6](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-avery) |
| Recognition | TV Guide ranked Uncle Phil No. 34 on its 50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time[4](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-james-avery-20140102-story.html) |
## Early life and start in acting
Avery grew up in [Atlantic City, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlantic-city-new-jersey). After Navy service during the [Vietnam War](https://www.edgepedia.org/vietnam-war) he moved to San Diego, where he worked as a writer before enrolling at the [University of California, San Diego](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-california-san-diego), where he earned a B.A. in drama and literature[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery). His first acting part came in 1971, playing God in the play *J.B.* at San Diego Community College[7](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39). Throughout a career spanning more than thirty years he worked both as a writer, with a collective group in San Diego, and as an actor in television, film, and theater[7](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39).
His screen work began with uncredited roles in the feature films *The Blues Brothers* and *The Stunt Man*, followed by small television parts in shows such as *Tales of the Gold Monkey*, *The Jeffersons*, and *Newhart*[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery).
## Uncle Phil and Fresh Prince
The role that defined Avery's public image was Philip Banks on *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*, which starred [Will Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-smith) and aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996; Avery appeared in more than 140 episodes[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery). Banks was a wealthy lawyer and, later, a judge who took in his streetwise nephew from [West Philadelphia](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-philadelphia)[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery). The show's creators later emphasized the character's duality: Uncle Phil, as executive producer [Quincy Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/quincy-jones) put it, was excited to live in the same neighborhood as the Reagans but also proud to have heard Malcolm X speak[8](https://time.com/4021944/quincy-jones-borowitz-fresh-prince-bel-air-anniversary/).
The show was the highest-rated new sitcom in its first season, drawing nearly 20 million viewers weekly at its peak[9](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/fresh-prince-bel-air-anniversary-will-smith-karyn-parsons-hillary-banks-sitcom-a9599861.html). Commentators credited Avery's character as the show's emotional center, a moral compass of a TV father; the Boston Globe noted the famous scene in which Uncle Phil responds to Will's question about his absent father, "How come he don't want me, man?", with a bear hug[10](https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2014/01/05/the-meaning-uncle-phil-death-from-fresh-prince-bel-air/N2SKiwEMvrMVPXxuCwBXGM/story.html). Will Smith said after Avery's death, "Some of my greatest lessons in Acting, Living and being a respectable human being came through James Avery"[11](https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/fresh-prince-of-bel-air-cast-where-are-they-now).
## Voice acting
Underline the range of his second career in animation: while he was charming sitcom audiences as Uncle Phil, Avery was the voice of Shredder, the masked villain of the original *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* series[2](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-enterprise-guest-star-james-avery-1945-2013) • [12](https://www.tvline.com/2074997/sitcom-star-james-avery-uncle-phil-tmnt-villain-shredder/). He held the role from 1987 to 1993, and other voice credits included Turbo in *Rambo* (1986), Sir Bryant in *The Legend of Prince Valiant* (1991–1994), Haroud Hazi Bin in *Aladdin* (1994), and [War Machine](https://www.edgepedia.org/war-machine) in *[Iron Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/iron-man-tv-series)* (1994)[3](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/james-avery-star-whose-role-as-uncle-phil-in-the-american-sitcom-the-fresh-prince-of-belair-won-him-fans-worldwide-9035505.html).
Avery did not consider himself a voice actor; in an interview he said he felt "lucky to have fallen into this situation" on *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*, calling the recording sessions "like going to a party every two days"[12](https://www.tvline.com/2074997/sitcom-star-james-avery-uncle-phil-tmnt-villain-shredder/). He observed that children who recognized his voice reacted instantly: when he threw on the Shredder voice for kids in an audience, the response was, in his words, "Oh, Yeah!"[12](https://www.tvline.com/2074997/sitcom-star-james-avery-uncle-phil-tmnt-villain-shredder/).
## Other screen work
After *Fresh Prince* ended, Avery worked steadily as a character actor. He starred in the UPN comedy series *Sparks* from 1996 to 1998 and had recurring roles on *The Legend of Tarzan*, Showtime's *Soul Food*, and *The Division* on Lifetime[7](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39). He played Judge Michael Conover on *L.A. Law* and was often cast as judges, doctors, and professors on *Night Court*, *Murder One*, and other series[7](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39). On TNT's *The Closer* he played Dr. Krippen, a medical examiner, in a recurring role from 2005 to 2012[6](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-avery) • [13](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/james-avery/).
His film credits included *Fletch*, *[License to Drive](https://www.edgepedia.org/license-to-drive)*, *Dancing in September* (an official entry at the 2001 [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival)), *Dr. Dolittle 2*, and *Raise Your Voice*[7](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39) • [6](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-avery). His final film, *Wish I Was Here*, directed by [Zach Braff](https://www.edgepedia.org/zach-braff), debuted at the Sundance Film Festival shortly after his death[2](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-enterprise-guest-star-james-avery-1945-2013).
## Stage career and Star Trek connections
Avery was trained as a Shakespearean actor[4](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-james-avery-20140102-story.html). His stage credits included [Much Ado About Nothing](https://www.edgepedia.org/much-ado-about-nothing) at the Long Wharf Theatre, Twelfth Night at San José Repertory Company, and the lead in Othello at the [Oregon Shakespeare Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/oregon-shakespeare-festival)[5](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/james-avery-miriam-margolyes-33274/). In Peter Hall's 2001 Ahmanson Theatre production of *Romeo and Juliet* in Los Angeles, he played Lord Montague in a staging that cast a black Montague family and white Capulets[5](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/james-avery-miriam-margolyes-33274/) • [3](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/james-avery-star-whose-role-as-uncle-phil-in-the-american-sitcom-the-fresh-prince-of-belair-won-him-fans-worldwide-9035505.html). His Othello at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum earned him the 2006 NAACP Image Award for Lead Male[6](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-avery).
Two connections to *Star Trek* are recorded: he was among the finalists for the role of Worf on *Star Trek: The Next Generation*, and he played K'Vagh, a general in the Klingon Defense Forces, in the *Star Trek: Enterprise* episodes "Affliction" and "Divergence"[2](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-enterprise-guest-star-james-avery-1945-2013).
## Later work and death
Avery hosted the PBS travel series *Going Places*, once public television's highest-rated series, visiting locations including Turkey, Bali, Madrid, and [Yellowstone National Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/yellowstone-national-park)[7](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39). He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Virginia State University in 1996[7](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39).
He married Barbara in 1988 and was survived by her, his mother Florence Avery, and his stepson Kevin Waters[3](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/james-avery-star-whose-role-as-uncle-phil-in-the-american-sitcom-the-fresh-prince-of-belair-won-him-fans-worldwide-9035505.html) • [2](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-enterprise-guest-star-james-avery-1945-2013). He died at a [Glendale, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/glendale-california) hospital on December 31, 2013, of complications from open-heart surgery[4](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-james-avery-20140102-story.html). Most outlets reported he was 65; the Washington Post and Startrek.com, citing his publicist, gave 68, and the *Independent* obituary lists his birth date as 1945, while the Television Academy lists November 27, 1948[14](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/james-avery-of-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-dead-at-68/2014/01/02/29fd0850-73b9-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html) • [2](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-enterprise-guest-star-james-avery-1945-2013) • [3](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/james-avery-star-whose-role-as-uncle-phil-in-the-american-sitcom-the-fresh-prince-of-belair-won-him-fans-worldwide-9035505.html) • [1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery).
## References
1. [James Avery, Television Academy bios](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-avery)
2. [Remembering Enterprise Guest Star James Avery, 1945–2013, StarTrek.com](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-enterprise-guest-star-james-avery-1945-2013)
3. [James Avery: Star whose role as Uncle Phil in the American sitcom 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' won him fans worldwide, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/james-avery-star-whose-role-as-uncle-phil-in-the-american-sitcom-the-fresh-prince-of-belair-won-him-fans-worldwide-9035505.html)
4. [James Avery dies at 65; played father figure on TV's 'Fresh Prince', Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-james-avery-20140102-story.html)
5. [James Avery & Miriam Margolyes, Back Stage West](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/james-avery-miriam-margolyes-33274/)
6. [James Avery, LA Phil](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-avery)
7. [James Avery's Biography, The HistoryMakers](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39)
8. [The Fresh Prince Turns 25: The Show's Creators on Will Smith, Reboots and Race, TIME](https://time.com/4021944/quincy-jones-borowitz-fresh-prince-bel-air-anniversary/)
9. [How The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air redefined the Nineties sitcom, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/fresh-prince-bel-air-anniversary-will-smith-karyn-parsons-hillary-banks-sitcom-a9599861.html)
10. ['Fresh Prince' fans mourn loss, The Boston Globe](https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2014/01/05/the-meaning-uncle-phil-death-from-fresh-prince-bel-air/N2SKiwEMvrMVPXxuCwBXGM/story.html)
11. ['The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air': Where Are They Now?, Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/fresh-prince-of-bel-air-cast-where-are-they-now)
12. [The Beloved Sitcom Star Who Was Also The Voice Of TMNT's Shredder, TVLine](https://www.tvline.com/2074997/sitcom-star-james-avery-uncle-phil-tmnt-villain-shredder/)
13. [James Avery, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/james-avery/)
14. [James Avery of 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' dead at 68, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/james-avery-of-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-dead-at-68/2014/01/02/29fd0850-73b9-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames A*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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