James Avery
{{Short description|American actor (1945–2013)}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = James Avery
| image = James Avery.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Avery in 2001
| birth_name = James La Rue Avery
| birth_date = {{birth date|1945|11|27}}
| birth_place = Suffolk, Virginia, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|12|31|1945|11|27}}
| death_place = Glendale, California, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1978–2013
| spouse = {{Marriage|Barbara Avery|1988}}
}}
James La Rue Avery (November 27, 1945 – December 31, 2013) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles as Philip Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Judge Michael Conover on L.A. Law, Steve Yeager in The Brady Bunch Movie, and Dr. Crippen on The Closer (2005–2007); and as the voice actor for Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Haroud Hazi Bin in Aladdin.
Early life
Avery was born on November 27, 1945, in Pughsville, Virginia (present-day Suffolk, Virginia), to mother Florence J. Avery.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39|title=Biography via The History Makers|access-date=January 18, 2016|archive-date=April 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414041520/http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/james-avery-39#:~:text=Born%20on%20November%2027%2C%201945,Ameda%20Speaks%3A%20Poet%20James%20Avery.|url-status=dead}} His father denied paternity and was not listed on his birth certificate. Florence would later move a teenaged James to Atlantic City, New Jersey,{{cite news|last=Keepnews|first=Peter|title=James Avery, 'Fresh Prince' Actor, Dies at 68|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/arts/television/james-avery-fresh-prince-actor-dies-at-68.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 1, 2014|access-date=June 16, 2014|archive-date=August 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829084444/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/arts/television/james-avery-fresh-prince-actor-dies-at-68.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/NATL-James-Avery-Fresh-Prince-of-Bel-Air-Uncle-Honorable-Philip-Banks-238369281.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_LABrand|title=James Avery, Uncle on "Fresh Prince," Dead at 68|website=NBC Los Angeles|date=January 1, 2014|access-date=January 1, 2014|archive-date=January 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191823/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/NATL-James-Avery-Fresh-Prince-of-Bel-Air-Uncle-Honorable-Philip-Banks-238369281.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_LABrand|url-status=live}} where he attended Atlantic City High School.Jackson, Vincent. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-james-avery-of-at/140599974/ "James Avery returns home to accept award from NJEA"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829084445/https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-james-avery-of-at/140599974/ |date=August 29, 2024 }}, The Press of Atlantic City, November 10, 2001. Accessed February 9, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Atlantic City native actor James Avery returned to his hometown this weekend to receive an award acknowledging his promotion of the teaching profession and recognizing his leadership in the acting field.... Avery, 52, is an Atlantic City High School graduate." He served in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969, and eventually moved to San Diego, California, where he began to write poetry and TV scripts for PBS.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/fresh-prince-star-james-avery-died-65/story?id=21391201|title='Fresh Prince' Star James Avery Died at 68|last=Messer|first=Lesley|website=ABC News|date=January 1, 2014|access-date=January 1, 2014|archive-date=August 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829084449/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/fresh-prince-star-james-avery-died-65/story?id=21391201|url-status=live}} He won an Emmy for production during his tenure there, and then received a scholarship to UC San Diego, where he attended Thurgood Marshall College (then Third College), earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and literature in 1976.{{cite web|last1=Griffin|first1=Jade|title=Memorial Tribute to Late Actor and UC San Diego Alumnus James Avery Set for March 1|url=http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/memorial_tribute_to_late_actor_and_uc_san_diego_alumnus_james_avery_set_for|website=UC San Diego News Center|access-date=March 7, 2014|date=February 13, 2014}}
Career
Avery began his career in the 1980s with appearances in television series such as NBC's Hill Street Blues, Showtime sitcom Brothers as Bubba Dean, Amen, FM and L.A. Law. In the 1990s, he achieved prominence for his role as Philip Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a character that was ranked number 34 in TV Guide{{'}}s "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time".{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/james-avery/bio/3000088306/ |title=James Avery Biography|work=TV Guide|access-date=August 27, 2023}} After The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ended, he played the lead role of Alonzo Sparks in the UPN comedy series Sparks that lasted for two seasons. Other notable roles in television included Dr. Crippen in The Closer, Charles Haysbert in The Division, and Michael Kelso's commanding officer at the police academy late in the series run of That '70s Show.
Among his most notable voice credits are the voices of Shredder in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, Br'er Bear in the Disney World version of Splash Mountain and Kinect Disneyland Adventures and James Rhodes/War Machine in the 1990s Iron Man series.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20771289,00.html|title=Watch James Avery Talk About Voicing Shredder in the Ninja Turtles Cartoon|last=Heigl|first=Alex|date=January 2, 2014|access-date=November 14, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117031212/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20771289,00.html|archive-date=November 17, 2015|df=mdy-all}} He also lent his powerful bass voice as Junkyard Dog in Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling (1985–1986), Turbo in Rambo and the Forces of Freedom (1986), and Haroud Hazi Bin in Aladdin (1994).
Avery was the commencement speaker for his alma mater, UC San Diego's Thurgood Marshall College, in 2007 and again in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://marshall.ucsd.edu/about-us/James-Avery.html|title=James Avery|access-date=January 18, 2016|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324135041/http://marshall.ucsd.edu/about-us/James-Avery.html|url-status=dead}}
Personal life
In 1988, Avery married his girlfriend Barbara.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,115677,00.html|title=Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - James Avery as Philip Banks|publisher=TBS|access-date=January 1, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191519/http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,115677,00.html|archive-date=2014-01-02}} Barbara was later dean of student life at Loyola Marymount University.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-1990-1996-vol-53-no-25/|title=The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: 1990-1996|website=People|date=June 26, 2000|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=August 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829084450/https://people.com/archive/the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-1990-1996-vol-53-no-25/|url-status=live}} He had no biological children, but was a stepfather to Barbara's son, Kevin Waters.{{Cite web|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|title='Fresh Prince' Co-Stars Remember James Avery|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1719768/james-avery-death-reaction/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515072107/http://www.mtv.com/news/1719768/james-avery-death-reaction/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 15, 2017|access-date=August 15, 2020|website=MTV News|language=en}}
Death, tributes and legacy
On December 31, 2013, Avery died at the age of 68 at Glendale Memorial Medical Center.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/01/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/james-avery-obit/|title=James Avery, star of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' dies at 68|last=France|first=Lisa Respers|date=January 1, 2014|work=CNN|access-date=January 1, 2014|archive-date=June 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602205316/http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/01/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/james-avery-obit/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/james-avery-fresh-prince-bel-air-father-dies-65-article-1.1563487|title=James Avery, Fresh Prince of Bel Air star, dies at 65|last=Dillon|first=Nancy|author2=Margaret Eby|author3=Zayda Rivera|date=January 1, 2014|work=Daily News|access-date=January 1, 2014|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413055131/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/james-avery-fresh-prince-bel-air-father-dies-65-article-1.1563487|url-status=live}} His publicist, Cynthia Snyder, told the Associated Press that Avery died following complications from open heart surgery.{{cite news|title=Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor James Avery dies - BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-25572065|access-date=October 11, 2020|website=BBC.com|date=January 1, 2014|archive-date=August 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829084452/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-25572065|url-status=live}}
Janet Hubert, who portrayed his on-screen wife Vivian on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for the first three seasons, said after his death: "RIP James, all the world is a stage, and we are all merely players in this production called LIFE."{{cite web|url=http://ifyoublinked.com/tag/james-avery-dead/|title=James Avery Dead|website=If You Blinked|date=January 3, 2014|access-date=December 28, 2017|archive-date=December 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229172312/https://ifyoublinked.com/tag/james-avery-dead/|url-status=live}} Will Smith commented on Avery's death, saying: "Some of my greatest lessons in acting, living, and being a respectable human being came through James Avery. Every young man needs an Uncle Phil. Rest in peace."{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/will-smith-james-avery-death-668568|title=Will Smith on James Avery Death: 'Every Young Man Needs an Uncle'|website=Hollywood Reporter|date=6 January 2014|access-date=December 28, 2017|archive-date=December 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229172036/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/will-smith-james-avery-death-668568|url-status=live}} Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Avery's on-screen son Carlton said, “I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly".{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/01/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/james-avery-obit/index.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%27m%20deeply%20saddened%20to,on%20her%20verified%20Facebook%20page.|title=James Avery, star of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' dies at 68|website=CNN.com|date=January 2014|access-date=February 20, 2023|archive-date=August 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829084539/https://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/01/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/james-avery-obit/index.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%27m%20deeply%20saddened%20to,on%20her%20verified%20Facebook%20page.|url-status=live}} Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey) called Avery a "gentle giant".
Avery's remains were cremated and scattered near the Pacific Ocean.{{Cite web|url=https://www.xonecole.com/photos-fresh-prince-cast-reunite-to-say-final-goodbyes-to-james-avery-uncle-phil/|title=[Photos] 'Fresh Prince' Cast Reunite To Say Final Goodbyes To James Avery (Uncle Phil) | xoNECOLE|date=March 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330224755/https://www.xonecole.com/photos-fresh-prince-cast-reunite-to-say-final-goodbyes-to-james-avery-uncle-phil/|archive-date=2017-03-30}} In April 2020, Will Smith reunited with the cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on a video conference honoring Avery's best moments on the show.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/30/entertainment/fresh-prince-of-bel-air-uncle-phil-james-avery/index.html|title="The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" cast gets emotional watching Uncle Phil's best moments|website=Cnn.com|date=April 30, 2020|first=Sandra|last=Gonzalez|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=May 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514065035/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/30/entertainment/fresh-prince-of-bel-air-uncle-phil-james-avery/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/2020/05/01/will-smith-honors-james-avery-fresh-prince-reunion/111649862/|title=Will Smith wipes tears while honoring James Avery during 'Fresh Prince' reunion|website=Detroitnews.com|date=1 May 2020|first=Christi|last=Carras|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=August 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829084453/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/2020/05/01/will-smith-honors-james-avery-fresh-prince-reunion/111649862/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/will-smith-to-reunite-with-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-cast-in-new-snapchat-series/|title=Will Smith Reunites with Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Cast: 'You Guys Are My Second Family'|first=Benjamin|last=VanHoose|website=People|date=April 30, 2020|access-date=June 19, 2021|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108071005/https://people.com/tv/will-smith-to-reunite-with-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-cast-in-new-snapchat-series/|url-status=live}}
AveryFest
File:Attending the first annual AveryFest.webp AveryFest is an annual African-American cultural and music festival held in the United States. The event, named in honor of James Avery, had its inaugural event September 2, 2023 in Avery's hometown of Suffolk, Virginia. The event will be held at Bennett's Creek Park each year, only minutes away from the Pughsville neighborhood where Avery was born.{{Cite news|url=https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2023/08/29/bennetts-creek-park-to-hold-first-averyfest/|title=Bennett's Creek Park to hold first 'Averyfest|work=suffolknewsherald.com|access-date=2017-08-04|language=en}}
In 2023, the first year of the festival included special guest appearances from Avery's wife, Barbara Avery, his TV wife from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, actress Daphne Maxwell Reid, and a special jazz spotlight in memory of Avery, who loved jazz music.{{Cite news|url=https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2023/09/05/averyfest-celebrates-suffolk-born-actors-career-life/|title=Averyfest celebrates Suffolk-born actor's career, life|work=Suffolk News-Herald|access-date=2017-08-04|language=en}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1978
| Libra | Dr. Baker | |
| rowspan="2" | 1980
| Customer at Diner | rowspan="2" | Uncredited |
| The Blues Brothers
| Dancer |
| rowspan="3" | 1985
| Fletch | Detective #2 | |
| Appointment with Fear
| Connors | |
| Stoogemania
| Gulch | |
| rowspan="5" | 1986
| Fang | Voice (1991 Streamline Pictures dub) |
| The Eleventh Commandment
| Larry | |
| 8 Million Ways to Die
| Deputy | |
| The Ladies Club
| Joe | |
| Extremities
| Security Guard | |
| rowspan="4" | 1987
| Clarence | |
| Nightflyers
| Darryl | |
| Deadly Daphne's Revenge
| Det. Wood | |
| Jake's M.O.
| Abel Barnes | |
| 1988
| Les' DMV Examiner | |
| rowspan="3" | 1991
| Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time | Lt. Coberly | |
| Shout
| Midnight Rider | Voice |
| The Linguini Incident
| Phil | |
| 1993
| Agent Noah Hollander | |
| 1995
| Steve Yeager | |
| 1997
| Dr. Glidden | |
| rowspan="2" | 1998
| 12 Bucks | Slow | |
| The Prince of Egypt{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/James-Avery/|title=James Avery (visual voices guide)|website=Behind The Voice Actors}}
|Additional Characters | Voice |
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| Cappy | |
| After Romeo
| | |
| 2000
| Mr. Warner | |
| rowspan="3" | 2001
| Honeybee | Larry Dukes | |
| Dr. Dolittle 2
| Eldon | |
| Chasing Sunsets
| Mr. Burken | |
| rowspan="2" | 2004
| Mr. Gantry | |
| Hair Show
| Seymour Gold | |
| rowspan="4" | 2005
| Lethal Eviction | Gus Winter | |
| The Third Wish
| George | |
| Wheelmen
| Vice President | |
| A Christmas Wish
| Saint | Short |
| rowspan="3" | 2006
| Restraining Order | Judge Sanderson | |
| Think Tank
| Uncle John | |
| Danika
| Teddy Johnson | |
| rowspan="2" | 2007
| Caddy Mack | |
| Divine Intervention
| Rev. Matthews | |
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| His Good Will | Mr. Cooper | rowspan="2" | Short |
| Leave with It
| Dr. Leon |
| 2009
| The Chancellor | |
| rowspan="3" | 2010
| Mark Hanley | |
| Stride
| George | |
| The Grind
| Modelo Snipes | |
| 2012
| Valediction | Edward | Short |
| 2014
| Audition actor #2 | Final role, posthumous release |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| rowspan="4" | 1983
| Antony and Cleopatra | Mardian | Television film |
| Tales of the Gold Monkey
| Gabriel | Episode: "God Save the Queen" |
| Newhart
| Construction Guy | Episode: "Heaven Knows Mr. Utley" |
| The Jeffersons
| Coleman | Episode: "Father Christmas" |
| 1983–1984
| Huey, Roy | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="7" | 1984
| Tolliver | 3 episodes |
| Legmen
| No Neck | Episode: "I Shall Be Re-Released" |
| Hardcastle and McCormick
|Jackson | Episode: "Scared Stiff" |
| Going Bananas
| Hank | |
| Webster
| Judge | Episode: "Webster Long" |
| Fist of the North Star
| Fang | Voice; English dub |
| The Dukes of Hazzard
| Charlie | Episode: "Cool Hands, Luke & Bo" |
| 1984–1985
| Brothers | Bubba Dean | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="10" | 1985
| Councilman Waters | Pilot |
| St. Elsewhere
| Mental Patient | Episode: "Give the Boy a Hand" |
| Cagney & Lacey
|Mr. Berwin | Episode: "Who Says It's Fair" |
| Kicks
| Stanley | Television film |
| Space
| Jean-Marie |
| Scarecrow and Mrs. King
| Nabuti | Episode: "Murder Between Friends" |
| Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling
| Voice |
| George Burns Comedy Week
| | Episode: "The Assignment" |
| The A-Team
|Quint | Episode: "The Heart of Rock n' Roll" |
| Moonlighting
| Reuben King | Episode: "Twas the Episode Before Christmas" |
| rowspan="6" | 1986
| Additional voices | |
| Amazing Stories
| Chief Hansen | Episode: "Hell Toupee" |
| Rambo and the Forces of Freedom
| Turbo | Voice |
| Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story
| Hank Dudney | rowspan="3" | Television film |
| Condor
| Cas |
| Sunday Drive
| Oliver |
| rowspan="2" | 1986–1989
| Killerwatt / Judge | Voice, 3 episodes |
| Amen
| Arnie Samples / Rev. Crawford | 5 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 1987
| Jake's M.O. | Abel Barnes | rowspan="2" | Television film |
| Timestalkers
| Blacksmith |
| Jake and the Fatman
|Lieutenant | Episode: "Fatal Attraction" |
| 1987–1989
| Valerie | Judge N. Keller / Mr. Erdman | 2 episodes |
| 1987–1993
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Shredder | Voice, 103 episodes |
| rowspan="4" | 1988
| Dallas | Judge Fowler | Episode: "Malice in Dallas" |
| Beauty and the Beast
| Winslow | |
| 227
| Jo-Jo | Episode: "My Aching Back" |
| Heart and Soul
| Harlan Sinclair | Pilot |
| 1988–1992
| L.A. Law | Judge Michael Conover | 9 episodes |
| rowspan="5" | 1989
| Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal | Earl | rowspan="2" | Television film |
| Roe vs. Wade
| |
| FM
| Quentin Lamoreaux | TV series |
| A Different World
| The Pin Punisher | Episode: "To Have and Have Not" |
| Turn Back the Clock
| Physical Therapist | Television film |
| rowspan="3" | 1990
| Judge Hopkins | Episode: "Wedding Bell Blues" |
| Capital News
|Mr. Fairchild | Pilot |
| To My Daughter
|Ian Mellon | Television film |
| 1990–1996
| Philip Banks | Main role; 148 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 1991
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Shredder | Voice, television film |
| The Legend of Prince Valiant
| Sir Bryant | Voice, 9 episodes |
| 1992
| Roc | Dale Hammers | Episode: "The Car Accident from Heaven" |
| rowspan="2" | 1993
| Without Warning: Terror in the Towers | Fred Ferby | Television film |
| Family Matters
| Himself | Episode: "Scenes from a Mall" |
| 1993–1994
| Charles Hamilton Houston / Narrator | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 1994
| Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die | Chess Player | rowspan="2" | Television film |
| A Friend to Die For
| Agent Gilwood |
| Aladdin
| Haroud Hazi Bin | Voice, 11 episodes |
| 1994–1995
| Iron Man | Voice, 7 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 1995
| Headman | Voice, episode: "Jirimpimbira – An African Folk Tale" |
| Murder One
| Judge Nathaniel Alexander | Episode: "Chapter Five" |
| rowspan="3" | 1996
| The Shaman | Voice, episode: "Walkabout" |
| Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys
| Voice, 26 episodes |
| Spider-Man
| War Machine | Voice, 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 1996–1998
| Sparks | Alonzo Sparks | 40 episodes |
| In the House
| Mediator / Sampson Stanton | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 1997
| Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Father | Voice, episode: "The Golden Goose" |
| Extreme Ghostbusters
| Danny | Voice, episode: "Dry Spell" |
| rowspan="3" | 1998
| The Advanced Guard | Fred | rowspan="2" | Television film |
| You Lucky Dog
| Calvin Bridges |
| The Wild Thornberrys
| Gorilla | Voice, episode: "Valley Girls" |
| rowspan="5" | 1999
| Judge Christopher Washington | Episode: "Legalese" |
| King's Pawn
| Cecil | Pilot |
| Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?
| Malcolm Avalon | 2 episodes |
| For Your Love
| Rev. Hicks | Episode: "Mother Load" |
| Family Law
| | Episode: "Damages" |
| 1999–2000
| Mr. Clapper | 3 episodes |
| rowspan="4" | 2000
| Bull | Prof. Gilbert Granville | Episode: "What the Past Will Bring" |
| One World
| William Richard | Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
| Preston Cash | Episode: "Unfriendly Skies" |
| Two Guys and a Girl
| Judge | Episode: "Rescue Me" |
| 2000–2002
| Walter | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="5" | 2001
| Epoch | Dr. Solomon Holt | Television film |
| The Jamie Foxx Show
| Reverend | Episode: "Always and Forever" |
| Strong Medicine
| Harold Jenkins | Episode: "Wednesday Night Fever" |
| The Legend of Tarzan
| Chief Keewazi | Voice, 3 episodes |
| The Proud Family
| Crandall Smythe | Voice, episode: "Spelling Bee" |
| 2001–2002
| 12 episodes |
| 2001–2003
| Walter Carter | 4 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 2002
| Philly | Dean Mark Clivner | Episode: "Here Comes the Judge" |
| Judging Amy
| Mr. Ruff | Episode: "Damage Control" |
| Nancy Drew
| Prof. Shifflin | Television film |
| 2002–2003
| Charles Haysbert | 9 episodes |
| rowspan="4" | 2003
| Reba | Judge Samuel Bennett | Episode: "The Feud" |
| Crossing Jordan
| Dr. Erkhart | Episode: "Conspiracy" |
| Street Smarts
| Contestant | Episode: "May 16, 2003" |
| All About the Andersons
| Roscoe | Episode: "Flo's Dream" |
| 2003–2004
| Lucas | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="5" | 2004
| Officer Kennedy | 3 episodes |
| Charmed
| Zola | Episode: "A Call to Arms" |
| NYPD Blue
| Steve Pines | Episode: "Great Balls or Ire" |
| Girlfriends
| Dr. Couch | Episode: "Maybe Baby" |
| That's So Raven
| Presto Jones | Episode: "Opportunity Shocks" |
| 2005–2007
| Dr. Crippen | 11 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 2005
| Prof. Floyd F. Tillman | Episode: "Study Buddy" |
| Star Trek: Enterprise
| General K'Vagh | 2 episodes |
| Living With Fran
| Mr. Bryant | Episode: "Learning with Fran" |
| 2006
| Take 3 | Judge Sanderson | Episode: "Study Buddy" |
| 2008
| Mason Andrews | Episode: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" |
| 2009
| Sherri | Redmond | 4 episodes |
| 2011
| Go-Seeki Ninja Master / Ninja Master Head | Voice, episode: "Hide and Seek Ninjaz" |
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| Sam | Episode: "One Step Too Far" |
| The Young and the Restless
| Judge Roy Daley | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 2013
| Dr. Beckett | rowspan="3" | Television film |
| Hunt for the Labyrinth Killer
| Judge Parsons |
| Go, Bolivia, Go!
| Commissioner Morocco |
| 2015
| Covington | Voice, episode: "Cello" |
=Video games/Other=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1992
| Br'er Frog, Br'er Bear |Walt Disney World version only |
| 1995
| Disney's Animated Storybook: The Lion King | Narrator | |
| 2006
|Cataclysm / Cat Commando | |
| 2011
| Br'er Bear | |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0043041}}
- [http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/james-avery-39 The HistoryMakers] Biography, photos and video clips
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avery, James}}
Category:20th-century African-American writers
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