Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star James Avery dies, aged 65

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James Avery, the bulky character actor who laid down the law as the Honourable Philip Banks in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, has died at the age of 65.

 

His publicist, Cynthia Snyder, said he died on Tuesday in Glendale, California, following complications from open heart surgery.

 

James played Will Smith's uncle in the popular TV series. His movie credits included Fletch, The Prince Of Egypt and 8 Million Ways To Die.

 

 

Patrick McLennan
Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.