EDIT: On CNN now. http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/01/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/james-avery-obit/
(CNN) – Actor James Avery, who played the beloved Uncle Phil on the hit 1990s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” died Tuesday, his publicist confirmed. He was 65.
His “Fresh Prince” co-star Alfonso Ribeiro tweeted news of Avery’s passing.
“I’m deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away,” Riberio tweeted. "He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly.
A classically trained actor and poet, Avery grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he was raised by a single mother. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and first appeared onscreen as a dancer in an uncredited role in the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers.”
According to IMDb, after he served in the military, Avery moved to San Diego, California, where he began writing TV scripts and poetry for PBS.
“I knew I loved the arts,” Avery said in an interview for the show “Unscripted.” “I knew I wanted to be a writer, but the theater was something I had been involved in before.”
Avery appeared in multiple TV shows and movies including as the voice of Shredder in the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” But his most famous role was as Phillip Banks, the stern but loving uncle to Will Smith’s character on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
James Avery – the beloved dad on “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” – has died at age 65 … TMZ has learned.
Sources close to the actor tell TMZ he died in an L.A. hospital last night. Avery had recently undergone surgery for an undisclosed illness and took a turn for the worse late yesterday.
And we’re told his wife, Barbara, had been at his bedside but left for a short period of time to get something to eat. When she came back, she learned he had just died.
Story developing…
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/01/01/james-avery-dies-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-actor-will-smith-alfonso-ribiero/#ixzz2pAp6UvJj
Still seeing if I can find something more official.
Apparently, Alfonso Ribeiro has posted this on his Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/officialalfonsoribeiro
Hotobu
January 1, 2014, 11:43pm
2
If it’s not true this is what’s going to happen to you.
Spoiler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvJeATp31dw
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Uncle Phiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil!
didnt he pass the same way micheal clarke duncan did? his wife left his side came back and he was was dead?
R.I.P none the less
Was not ready for that one.
R.I.P.
If I ever make it to heaven and I don’t belong there I hope thats the nigga that throws me out.
God damn. The greatest TV uncle in the history of mankind is now gone ;-;
I was hoping, in some magical way, that the Fresh Prince crew would do a reunion of some type. Sadly, no point to it now.
And it’s a fucked up way to ring in the new year…
Vynce
January 2, 2014, 12:08am
12
Aw man :-/
He appeared on The Neighbors. It was great to see him in something again. RIP.
65!? Way too young. R.I.P big man.
Fuck you, death.
R.I.P. to one of the greatest TV dads ever.
R.I.P
My most favorite scene of him during the whole show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmerFuzRNZ4
What a way to start the new year. RIP James.
He was shredder too on the original TMNT cartoon. This really really sucks. He was so so so good. GOAT shredder voice.
Bious
January 2, 2014, 12:22am
18
God damn it, did not need this starting off the year.
R.I.P
What a shitty way to kick off the year. RIP,
And to think I felt we dodged a bullet with the deaths of yesteryear, and now this. Uncle Phil was an iconic paternal figure for many kids, myself included. Comedy aside, he always felt like a man of character, and James Avery was the one responsible for making him a convincing figure.
R est I n P eace
RIP