★ 8.2 
Acting
James Avery
James Avery is best known for Grey's Anatomy, Charmed, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and That '70s Show. James Avery was born on November 27, 1945. James Avery died on December 31, 2013 at the age of 68.
- Born
- November 27, 1945
- Place of birth
- Pughsville [now Suffolk], Virginia, USA
- Died
- December 31, 2013 (68 years old)
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.
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.
Known for
Filmography
- 2011Harry's LawFred Billings
- 2011The Problem SolverzNinja Master Head (voice)
- 2009SherriRedmond
- 2008Eli StoneMason Andrews
- 2005Living with Fran
- 2005Grey's AnatomySam
- 2005The CloserDr. Crippen
- 2003That's So RavenPresto Jones
- 2001Star Trek: EnterpriseGeneral K'Vagh
- 2001The Legend of TarzanKeewazi (voice)
- 2001The Proud FamilyCrandall Smythe (voice)
- 2001PhillyDean Mark Clivner
- 2001The Nightmare RoomR.L. Stine
- 2001Crossing JordanDr. Erkhart
- 2001The DivisionCharles Haysbert
- 2001RebaJudge Samuel Bennett
- 2000CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationPreston Cash
- 2000Strong MedicineHarold Jenkins
- 2000GirlfriendsDr. Couch
- 1999Family Law
- 1998The Wild ThornberrysGorilla (voice)
- 1998One WorldWilliam Richard
- 1998CharmedZola
- 1998That '70s ShowOfficer Kennedy
- 1998Two Guys and a GirlJudge
- 1997Going PlacesHost
- 1996SparksAlonzo Sparks
- 1996Captain Simian & the Space MonkeysGor-illa (voice)
- 1996The Jamie Foxx ShowReverend
- 1996Quack PackFlint Steel (voice)
- 1995Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildFather (voice)
- 1995Murder OneNathaniel Alexander
- 1994AladdinHaroud Hazi Bin (voice)
- 1994Iron ManWar Machine (voice)
- 1994Spider-ManJim Rhodes / War Machine (voice)
- 1994GargoylesThe Shaman (voice)
- 1994DuckmanSchool Policeman (voice)
- 1991The Legend of Prince ValiantSir Bryant (voice)
- 1991RocDale Hammers
- 1990The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirPhilip Banks
- 1990Capital NewsMr. Fairchild
- 1989Family Matters(uncredited)
- 1989FMQuentin Lamoreaux
- 1988American ExperienceCharles Hamilton Houston (voice)
- 1988A Pup Named Scooby-DooCount Shockula (voice)
- 1987Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesShredder (voice)
- 1987A Different WorldThe Pin Punisher
- 1987Beauty and the BeastWinslow
- 1986Rambo: The Force of FreedomTurbo (voice)
- 1986The Real GhostbustersKillerwatt (voice)
- 1986L.A. LawJudge Michael Conover
- 1985Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling(voice)
- 1985Amazing StoriesChief Hansen
- 1985MoonlightingReuben King
- 1984Going BananasHank
- 1984Night CourtJudge Hopkins
- 1984BrothersBubba
- 1983Reading RainbowSelf - Narrator (voice)
- 1983The A-TeamQuint
- 1982NewhartConstruction Worker
- 1982St. ElsewhereMan in E.R.
- 1978DallasJudge J. Fowler
Frequently asked questions
What movies and shows has James Avery been in?
James Avery is best known for Grey's Anatomy, Charmed, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and That '70s Show.
When was James Avery born?
James Avery was born on November 27, 1945. (Pughsville [now Suffolk], Virginia, USA)
How old is James Avery?
James Avery died on December 31, 2013 at the age of 68.
Updated: October 27, 2026 ·