James Avery

James LaRue Avery (November 27, 1945 – December 31, 2013) was an American actor.

Best known for his portrayal of the patriarch and attorney (later judge) Philip Banks, Will Smith's character's uncle, in the TVsitcomThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. This character was ranked #34 in TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time." He also provided the voice of Shredder in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series, as well as War Machine in the animated series Iron Man and Junkyard Dog in Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling. He also played Michael Kelso's commanding officer at the police academy late in the series run of That '70s Show.

James Avery is known for work in acting across film and television. New Release currently presents 34 verified screen credits connected to this profile.

Selected work includes Raise Your Voice (2004), The Nightmare Room (2001), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys (1996), Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990), A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988), License to Drive (1988).

The recorded credits span 1978 to 2005, including 4 movies and 30 TV shows. The filmography below lists available titles, release years and known roles.

This profile is updated as additional verified information becomes available.