On Tuesday Dec 31, 2013, we lost beloved actor James Avery. James is best known for his role as Uncle Phil in the hit NBC comedy, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. This information was confirmed by James’s Publicist, he was 68 years young.
James had recently had open heart surgery, there where complications and this lead to his death according to his manager, Toni Benson.
Best known for playing Carlton, actor Aflonso Ribeiro was one of the first to tweet James’ passing. He said, “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.
According to CNN, Avery was 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.”
James’ last film, “Wish I Was Here,” will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this year.
James’ will be missed, I personally grow up watching, Fresh Prince and he was basically a second father to me as I and many other young black males wanted a positive male figure like that in our lives.
RIP