What Was James Avery's Net Worth?
James Avery was an American actor with a net worth of $3 million at the time of his death. He was most famous for playing Judge Philip Banks on the NBC sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," which starred Will Smith. The show aired 148 episodes across six seasons from September 1990 to May 1996. In addition to "Fresh Prince," James had roles in numerous movies and TV shows across his three-decades-long career. He was also the voice of Shredder on the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" cartoon series. James Avery passed away on December 31, 2013, at 68, due to complications from open heart surgery.
Early Life
James Avery was born on November 27, 1945, in Pughsville, Virginia, to Florence J. Avery. His father denied paternity and was not listed on his birth certificate. He moved with his mother to Atlantic City, New Jersey, during childhood. After high school, Avery served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969. Post-service, he moved to San Diego, California, and began writing television scripts for PBS, winning an Emmy Award for one of his productions and earning a scholarship to UC San Diego. He graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and literature.
Career
James Avery started his career as a television writer before transitioning to acting. His early roles included minor parts in films like "The Stunt Man" and "The Blues Brothers" in 1980, and TV series such as "Tales of the Gold Monkey," "Newhart," and "The Jeffersons." Throughout the mid-1980s, he appeared in various TV shows including "Hill Street Blues," "The A-Team," and "Moonlighting," as well as in films like "Fletch" and "Appointment with Fear."
In 1987, he landed the notable voice role of Shredder in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," voicing the character for 103 episodes until 1993. Between 1988 and 1992, he was featured in "L.A. Law," and in 1990, he was cast as Philip Banks in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," appearing in 148 episodes until 1996. This role became one of his most iconic, cementing his place in television history. The character of Philip Banks was later included in TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" list.
(Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
Post-"Fresh Prince," Avery starred in the UPN comedy series "Sparks," which aired for two seasons. Throughout the 1990s, he featured in or voiced characters in series such as "Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys," "In the House," "Iron Man," and "Aladdin."
In the 2000s, he continued appearing in shows like "Dharma & Greg," "Strong Medicine," and "Charmed." He had recurring roles in "The Closer," appearing in 11 episodes from 2005 to 2007, and in films like "Think Tank" and "Danika." His final screen appearances were in "Hunt for the Labyrinth Killer," "Go, Bolivia, Go!" and "Call Me Crazy: A Five Film," with a posthumous appearance in the film "Wish I Was Here" in 2014.
Personal Life and Death
James Avery married his longtime partner, Barbara, in 1988. Barbara worked as the dean of student life at Loyola Marymount University. The couple had no children together, but Avery was a stepfather to Barbara's son, Kevin Waters. In 2007, he delivered the commencement speech at his alma mater, UC San Diego, returning for another speech in 2012.
On December 31, 2013, Avery died at Glendale Memorial Medical Center at the age of 68 due to complications from open heart surgery. Tributes poured in from former co-stars like Janet Hubert, Will Smith, and Joseph Marcell. His remains were cremated and scattered near the Pacific Ocean. In April 2020, the cast of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" reunited via video conference to honor his memory.
Real Estate
In November 1992, James Avery purchased a home in L.A.'s Los Feliz neighborhood for $565,000. The estate sold the home for $1.81 million in February 2019.
