http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/james-avery-fresh-prince-bel-air-father-dies-65-article-1.1563487

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by kalbir

RIP Uncle Phil

Sad to hear about this. I was never a big watcher of the show, because I don't like Will Smith, but when I did watch, Avery was consistently funny, a great slow-burn comic, yet never trying to steal scenes and make it all about him. He will be missed.

So sorry to hear this news.

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by reallyhateskateonlost

May he rest in peace. He was always funniest when Uncle Phil would get angry.

He was such a MVP as Uncle Phil, after Geoffrey the Butler, probably the funniest character on the show.

He also had a small role as a judge on Y&R in recent times, IMO he stole every scene he was in. And his speaking voice!

RIP, Mr. Banks.

I enjoyed him as Uncle Phil. He had great comedic timing. I watched him as the medical examiner on The Closer more recently.

Rest in peace, James.

I enjoyed Uncle Phil. I remember his Y&R role as the judge from the hit and run trial.

How sad. "Fresh Prince" was never a favourite of mine, but he was one of the best things about it.

I'm so sad about this one. One of my favorite sitcom dads ever. James Avery was a great actor and funny as hell. But, until I read that article on his death I literally had no clue he was a Vietnam veteran.

RIP James...you'll be missed.

I was very sorry to read about Mr. Avery's passing. 68 still seems too young. I had the pleasure of seeing him onstage in an all-black production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Long Wharf in CT. Geoffrey Owens was also in the cast. I got to say a quick hello/congrats to Mr. Avery during the post-show reception, and to tell him that I fondly remembered his vocal characterization of Shredder on the TMNT cartoon. I hadn't even realized that it was him until Joan Rivers brought it up while interviewing him on her show several years ago.

My heart goes out to his poor wife. I can only imagine how she feels having stepped out for a bit only to have lost him while she was gone. But maybe Mr. Avery wanted it that way. The Fresh Prince cast seemed so genuinely tight and fond of one another which makes this even sadder. I honestly believe that they are one of the few sitcom casts that could have pulled off a scripted reunion and would have had one helluva time rehearsing and taping.

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by SFK

So sad.

RIP James! You were the best part of FPOB!

I'm really hoping a channel that has rights to the show plays a marathon of "Uncle Phil's best moments" or something like that this weekend. It would be the proper thing to do.

I plan on watching some Fresh Prince later. It's on at Midnight (EST) on ABCFamily if anyone else wants to watch.

I wanna see him throw Jazz out of the mansion.

Oh wow. RIP. He was hilarious.