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.

James Avery

Acting Born November 27, 1945 – Died December 31, 2013 Pughsville [now Suffolk], Virginia, USA

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

Grey's Anatomy

Sam

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Preston Cash

Charmed

Zola

Dallas

Judge J. Fowler

Star Trek: Enterprise

General K'Vagh

The Closer

Dr. Crippen

That '70s Show

Officer Kennedy

Crossing Jordan

Dr. Erkhart

L.A. Law

Judge Michael Conover

The A-Team

Quint

Strong Medicine

Harold Jenkins

St. Elsewhere

Man in E.R.