James Avery
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.
Known For
Oliver
Sunday Drive
Dr. Solomon Holt
Epoch
Eldon
Dr. Dolittle 2
Hank Dudney
Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story
Additional Voices (voice)
The Prince of Egypt
Stanley
Kicks
Les' DMV examiner
License to Drive
Mr. Gantry
Raise Your Voice
Ian Mellon
To My Daughter
Agent Gilwood
A Friend to Die For
Midnight Rider (voice)
Shout
Darryl
Nightflyers
George
The Third Wish
Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Attack of the Big MACC
Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Turtles' Awesome Easter
Blacksmith
Timestalkers
Fred, Captive Security Guard
The Advanced Guard
Cas
Condor
Rev. Matthews
Divine Intervention
Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Planet of the Turtleoids
Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Heroes in a Halfshell
Clarence
Three for the Road
Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Epic Begins
Vice President
Wheelmen
Dr. Glidden
Spirit Lost
Dr. Beckett
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
Mr. Warner
Dancing in September
Mardian
Antony and Cleopatra
Judge Parsons
Hunt for the Labyrinth Killer
Lt. Coberly
Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time
Agent Noah Hollander
Little Miss Millions
Cappy
Out in Fifty
Phil
The Linguini Incident
Caddy Mack
Who's Your Caddy?
Laugh Busters
Haig
Not Your Time
Self
Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years
Man Dancing Outside Ray's Shop
The Blues Brothers
Roe vs. Wade
Connors
Appointment with Fear
Mr. Steve Yeager
The Brady Bunch Movie
Gus Winter
Lethal Eviction
Splinter (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles at the Earth's Core
Jim Rhodes / War Machine
Spider-Man: The Venom Saga
Security Guard
Extremities
Haig
Stars In Shorts
R.L. Stine
The Nightmare Room: Scareful What You Wish For
Calvin Bridges
You Lucky Dog
Narrator
Midnight Ramble
Earl
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal
Joe
The Ladies Club
Prof. Shifflin
Nancy Drew
Honeybee
Detective Wood
Deadly Daphne's Revenge
Detective #2
Fletch
Deputy D.A.
8 Million Ways to Die
Seymour Gold
Hair Show
Uncle John
Think Tank
Man Playing Pinball (uncredited)
The Stunt Man
Fred Derby
Without Warning: Terror in the Towers
Attendant
The 11th Commandment
The Chancellor
Steppin: The Movie
Teddy Johnson
Danika
Gulch
Stoogemania
Chess Player
Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die
The Headman
Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale
Audition Actor #2
Wish I Was Here
Fred (uncredited)
Turn Back the Clock
Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga Shredhead
Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
70
Gender
Male
Birthday
1945-11-27
Place of Birth
Pughsville [now Suffolk], Virginia, USA
Also Known As
James La Rue Avery