University. He had no biological children, but was a stepfather to Barbara's son, Kevin Waters. Death On December 31, 2013, Avery died at the age of 68 at Glendale Memorial Medical Center. His publicist, Cynthia Snyder, told the Associated Press that Avery died following complications from open heart surgery. 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." 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." Alfonso Ribeiro, who played his 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". Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey) called Avery a "gentle giant". Avery's remains were cremated and scattered near the Pacific Ocean. 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. Filmography Film Television Video games References External links The HistoryMakers Biography, photos and video clips 1945 births 2013 deaths African-American male actors African-American poets American male film actors American male poets American male television actors American male voice actors American television personalities Male television personalities American television writers American male television writers Male actors from New Jersey Male actors from Virginia People from Atlantic City, New Jersey People from Suffolk, Virginia Screenwriters from California Screenwriters from New Jersey Screenwriters from Virginia United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War United States Navy sailors University of California, San Diego alumni Virginia State University alumni 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors 20th-century American poets African-American screenwriters 20th-century American male writers 20th-century African-American writers 21st-century African-American people African-American male writers African-American United States Navy personnel African Americans in the Vietnam War Deaths from complications of heart surgery