Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air Star James 'Uncle Phil' Avery Dies Aged 68

We all remember Uncle Phil in  fresh prince of Bel-Air show from 1990 to 1996 and worked on a number of TV and film projects up until he fell ill this year. James Avery, died suddenly in an Los Angeles hospital on New Year's Eve from complications following open heart surgery.

According to TMZ ,68 years old  Avery, who also suffered from diabetes, had recently undergone surgery for an undisclosed illness and took a turn for the worse late on Tuesday. They added that his wife of 15 years, Barbara, had briefly left his bedside to get food when he passed away. His mother Florence Avery told the New York Daily News: 'It breaks my heart. My child was a great person who helped anyone he could.
He was really just a nice person whose great passion in life was reading.' Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Avery's on-screen son Carlton on the show, tweeted: 'I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly.' Jada Pinkett Smith, wife of the show's leading man Will, wrote on Facebook: 'Happy New Year everyone! I was hoping to start the new year differently but we have lost yet another friend. James Avery who we all lovingly know as Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince has passed. The versatile actor played  TMZ reported that the actor