Date of Birth: November 27, 1945
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: December 31, 2013
Biography
James L. Avery, Sr. was an esteemed American actor, best known for his iconic role as Philip Banks in the popular television sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which aired from 1990 to 1996. Born in Pughsville, Virginia, Avery grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War before pursuing a career in the arts. After his military service, he moved to San Diego, where he began writing TV scripts and poetry for PBS. Avery’s deep, commanding voice and his imposing physical presence made him a frequent choice for authoritative roles. Besides “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” he lent his voice to numerous animated series, including Shredder in the original “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” Throughout his career, Avery appeared in over 140 film and television projects, making substantial contributions to both the screen and stage.
5 Interesting Facts about James Avery
1. Avery was an accomplished poet and won an Emmy for his work on the television series “A Matter of Life and Death.”
2. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and Literature from the University of California, San Diego.
3. Avery’s character, Philip Banks, was ranked number 34 in TV Guide’s “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time.”
4. He appeared in several other well-known TV shows, including “CSI,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “The Closer.”
5. Avery was a philanthropist and was actively involved in various charitable organizations, including those supporting the arts and education.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from James Avery
1. “You can either be a movie star or an actor. I’m an actor.”
2. “Monsters work seven days a week and don’t take vacations.”
3. “The greatest gift you can give your children is the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”
4. “You do the best you can with what you get, and if you get more, you just do better.”
5. “To me, the only thing that matters is that I entertain you for an hour or two.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, James Avery’s net worth was estimated to be around $3 million.
Children
James Avery did not have any biological children, but he was a stepfather to his wife Barbara’s son, Kevin Waters.
Relevant Links
1. [James Avery on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0043041/
2. [James Avery on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Avery_(actor
3. [Biography of James Avery on Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/actor/james-avery
4. [James Avery on Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/james_avery
5. [James Avery Tribute on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hc5xkS1m3A
