James Avery best known as ‘Uncle Phil’ From Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, dead at 68

James Avery, best known as his role as attorney Phillip Banks on the hit sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel Air has died.  He was 68.

Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton on the show, said this on his Facebook page:

The world has lost a truly special man. I am very saddened to say that James Avery has passed. Even though he played my father on TV, he was a wonderful father figure to me in life. He will be deeply missed.

Sources close to the actor say he died in an L.A. hospital last night. Avery had recently undergone surgery operation heart surgery and reportedly died from complications of the surgery.

Born in Atlantic City, NJ, where he was raised by a single mother, James Avery was a classically trained actor and poet. 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.”

Avery also voiced characters for many animated series, most notably for 1987’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and the 1990s “Iron Man” series. But Avery was best known and will most be remembered for playing Phillip Banks, the stern but loving uncle to Will Smith’s character on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”