James Avery

Born: 1945-11-27 in Pughsville [now Suffolk], Virginia, USA

Died: 2013-12-31

Known For: Acting

Biography

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.

Filmography

2011

Harry's Law as Fred Billings
The Problem Solverz as Ninja Master Head (voice)

2010

Not Your Time as Haig

2009

Sherri as Redmond
Steppin: The Movie as The Chancellor

2008

Eli Stone as Mason Andrews
Divine Intervention as Rev. Matthews

2007

Who's Your Caddy? as Caddy Mack

2006

Danika as Teddy Johnson
Think Tank as Uncle John

2005

Grey's Anatomy as Sam
The Closer as Dr. Crippen
Living with Fran
Spider-Man: The Venom Saga as Jim Rhodes / War Machine (voice)
Lethal Eviction as Gus Winter
The Third Wish as George
Wheelmen as Vice President

2004

Raise Your Voice as Mr. Gantry
Hair Show as Seymour Gold

2003

That's So Raven as Presto Jones

2002

Nancy Drew as Prof. Shifflin

2001

Crossing Jordan as Dr. Erkhart
Star Trek: Enterprise as General K'Vagh
The Division as Charles Haysbert
Reba as Judge Samuel Bennett
The Proud Family as Crandall Smythe (voice)
The Legend of Tarzan as (voice)
Philly as Dean Mark Clivner
The Nightmare Room as R.L. Stine
Dr. Dolittle 2 as Eldon
Epoch as Dr. Solomon Holt
Honeybee
The Nightmare Room: Scareful What You Wish For as R.L. Stine
Dancing in September as Mr. Warner

2000

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Preston Cash
Strong Medicine as Harold Jenkins
Girlfriends as Dr. Couch

1999

Family Law
Out in Fifty as Cappy

1998

Charmed as Zola
That '70s Show as Officer Kennedy
The Wild Thornberrys as Gorilla (voice)
Two Guys and a Girl as Judge
The Prince of Egypt as Additional Voices (voice)
One World as William Richard
You Lucky Dog as Calvin Bridges
Quincy Jones... The First 50 Years as Self
The Advanced Guard as Fred, Captive Security Guard

1997

Spirit Lost as Dr. Glidden
Going Places as Host

1996

The Jamie Foxx Show as Reverend
Quack Pack as Flint Steel (voice)
Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys as Gor-illa (voice)
Sparks as Alonzo Sparks

1995

Murder One as Judge Nathaniel Alexander
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as Father (voice)
The Brady Bunch Movie as Mr. Steve Yeager
Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale as The Headman

1994

Spider-Man as Jim Rhodes / War Machine (voice)
Gargoyles as The Shaman (voice)
Duckman as School Policeman (voice)
Aladdin as Haroud Hazi Bin (voice)
Iron Man as War Machine (voice)
A Friend to Die For as Agent Gilwood
Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die as Chess Player
Midnight Ramble as Narrator

1993

Without Warning: Terror in the Towers as Fred Derby
Little Miss Millions as Agent Noah Hollander

1992

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Turtles' Awesome Easter as Shredder (voice)

1991

The Legend of Prince Valiant as Sir Bryant (voice)
Roc as Dale Hammers
Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time as Lt. Coberly
Shout as Midnight Rider (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Planet of the Turtleoids as Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Attack of the Big MACC as Shredder (voice)
The Linguini Incident as Phil
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles at the Earth's Core as Splinter (voice)

1990

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Philip Banks
Capital News as Mr. Fairchild
To My Daughter as Ian Mellon
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop as Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga, Shredhead as Shredder (voice)

1989

Family Matters as (uncredited)
FM as Quentin Lamoreaux
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal as Earl
Turn Back the Clock as Fred (uncredited)
Roe vs. Wade
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Incredible Shrinking Turtles as Shredder (voice)

1988

American Experience as Narrator (voice)
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo as Count Shockula (voice)
License to Drive as Les' DMV examiner
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Epic Begins as Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Hot Rodding Teenagers as Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Heroes in a Halfshell as Shredder (voice)

1987

A Different World as The Pin Punisher
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as Shredder (voice)
Nightflyers as Darryl
Three for the Road as Clarence
Timestalkers as Blacksmith
Beauty and the Beast as Winslow
Deadly Daphne's Revenge as Detective Wood

1986

L.A. Law as Judge Michael Conover
The Real Ghostbusters as Killerwatt (voice)
Rambo: The Force of Freedom
8 Million Ways to Die as Deputy D.A.
Extremities as Security Guard
Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story as Hank Dudney
The Ladies Club as Joe
The 11th Commandment as Attendant
Sunday Drive as Oliver
Condor as Cas

1985

Moonlighting as Reuben King
Amazing Stories as Chief Hansen
Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling as (voice)
Fletch as Detective #2
Stoogemania as Gulch
Kicks as Stanley
Appointment with Fear as Connors

1984

Night Court as Judge Hopkins
Brothers as Bubba
Going Bananas as Hank
Laugh Busters

1983

The A-Team as Quint
Reading Rainbow as Self - Narrator (voice)
Antony and Cleopatra as Mardian

1982

St. Elsewhere as Man in E.R.
Newhart as Construction Worker

1980

The Blues Brothers as Man Dancing Outside Ray's Shop
The Stunt Man as Diner Patron (uncredited)

1978

Dallas as Judge J. Fowler