James Avery, who portrayed the commanding yet cuddly father figure on the hit 1990s sit-com “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” died at a Glendale hospital Tuesday night due to complications from ...

Avery played Uncle Phil in the '90s sitcom. Jan. 1, 2014 -- James Avery, the actor who played Uncle Phil on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," died on Tuesday, his publicist confirmed to ABC News.

Beloved TV dad James Avery died on New Year’s Eve at age 68 following weeks of complications from open heart surgery, his rep said. Best known for playing Will Smith’s wise and wealthy Uncle ...

LOS ANGELES, Jan 1 (Reuters) - James Avery, a classically trained actor best known for his role as the wealthy uncle of the young rapper Will Smith in the 1990s television comedy "The Fresh Prince ...

This photo provided by NBC shows, Joseph Marcell, left, as Geoffrey, and James Avery, as Philip Banks, in the episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse" from the TV series, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." ...

James Avery, who died Dec. 31, will always be best remembered as Philip Banks, the patriarch and uncle of Will Smith’s character on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” That character was even ...

James Avery, who played the Honorable Philip Banks on the show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," has died following complications from open heart surgery. Avery's publicist, Cynthia Snyder ...

James Avery, the veteran TV actor who portrayed Uncle Phil on the sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," has died. He was reportedly 68 years old. Avery's publicist told The Associated Press that ...