James Avery
Born
November 27, 1945
Died
December 31, 2013 (68 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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
Wish I Was Here
Audition Actor #2
2014
Hunt for the Labyrinth Killer
Judge Parsons
2013
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
Dr. Beckett
2013
Stars In Shorts
Haig
2012
Harry's Law
Fred Billings · (1 episode)
2011
Not Your Time
Haig
2010
Sherri
Redmond · (13 episodes)
2009
Steppin: The Movie
The Chancellor
2009
Divine Intervention
Rev. Matthews
2008
Eli Stone
Mason Andrews · (1 episode)
2008
Who's Your Caddy?
Caddy Mack
2007
Danika
Teddy Johnson
2006
Think Tank
Uncle John
2006
The Closer
Dr. Crippen · (11 episodes)
2005
Spider-Man: The Venom Saga
Jim Rhodes / War Machine
2005
Wheelmen
Vice President
2005
The Third Wish
George
2005
Living with Fran
(1 episode)
2005
Grey's Anatomy
Sam · (1 episode)
2005
Lethal Eviction
Gus Winter
2005
Hair Show
Seymour Gold
2004
Raise Your Voice
Mr. Gantry
2004
That's So Raven
Presto Jones · (1 episode)
2003
Nancy Drew
Prof. Shifflin
2002
Epoch
Dr. Solomon Holt
2001
Star Trek: Enterprise
General K'Vagh · (2 episodes)
2001
Philly
Dean Mark Clivner · (1 episode)
2001
Crossing Jordan
Dr. Erkhart · (1 episode)
2001
The Proud Family
Crandall Smythe (voice) · (1 episode)
2001
The Legend of Tarzan
Keewazi (voice) · (3 episodes)
2001
The Legend of Tarzan
(voice) · (1 episode)
2001
The Nightmare Room: Scareful What You Wish For
R.L. Stine
2001
The Nightmare Room
R.L. Stine · (13 episodes)
2001
Dr. Dolittle 2
Eldon
2001
Honeybee
2001
Dancing in September
Mr. Warner
2001
The Division
Charles Haysbert · (9 episodes)
2001
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Preston Cash · (1 episode)
2000
Strong Medicine
Harold Jenkins · (1 episode)
2000
Family Law
(1 episode)
1999
Out in Fifty
Cappy
1999
The Prince of Egypt
Additional Voices (voice)
1998
Charmed
Zola · (1 episode)
1998
One World
William Richard · (1 episode)
1998
The Wild Thornberrys
Gorilla (voice) · (1 episode)
1998
That '70s Show
Officer Kennedy · (3 episodes)
1998
You Lucky Dog
Calvin Bridges
1998
Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years
Self
1998
The Advanced Guard
Fred, Captive Security Guard
1998
Two Guys and a Girl
Judge · (1 episode)
1998
Spirit Lost
Dr. Glidden
1997
Going Places
Host · (19 episodes)
1997
Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys
Gor-illa (voice) · (26 episodes)
1996
The Jamie Foxx Show
Reverend · (1 episode)
1996
Sparks
Alonzo Sparks · (40 episodes)
1996
Murder One
Judge Nathaniel Alexander · (1 episode)
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Father (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale
The Headman
1995
The Brady Bunch Movie
Mr. Steve Yeager
1995
Spider-Man
Jim Rhodes / War Machine (voice) · (2 episodes)
1994
Midnight Ramble
Narrator
1994
Gargoyles
The Shaman (voice) · (1 episode)
1994
A Friend to Die For
Agent Gilwood
1994
Iron Man
War Machine (voice) · (13 episodes)
1994
Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die
Chess Player
1994
Duckman
School Policeman (voice) · (1 episode)
1994
Duckman
'Beware!' Guy (voice) · (1 episode)
1994
Aladdin
Haroud Hazi Bin (voice) · (4 episodes)
1994
Little Miss Millions
Agent Noah Hollander
1993
Without Warning: Terror in the Towers
Fred Derby
1993
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Turtles' Awesome Easter
Shredder (voice)
1992
Shout
Midnight Rider (voice)
1991
The Legend of Prince Valiant
Sir Bryant · (65 episodes)
1991
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Planet of the Turtleoids
Shredder (voice)
1991
Roc
Dale Hammers · (1 episode)
1991
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles at the Earth's Core
Splinter (voice)
1991
Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time
Lt. Coberly
1991
The Linguini Incident
Phil
1991
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Attack of the Big MACC
Shredder (voice)
1991
To My Daughter
Ian Mellon
1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Philip Banks · (148 episodes)
1990
Capital News
Mr. Fairchild · (1 episode)
1990
Turn Back the Clock
Fred (uncredited)
1989
Roe vs. Wade
1989
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal
Earl
1989
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Epic Begins
Shredder (voice)
1988
American Experience
Charles Hamilton Houston (voice) · (1 episode)
1988
American Experience
Narrator (voice) · (1 episode)
1988
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
Count Shockula (voice) · (1 episode)
1988
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Heroes in a Halfshell
Shredder (voice)
1988
License to Drive
Les' DMV examiner
1988
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Shredder (voice) · (169 episodes)
1987
Deadly Daphne's Revenge
Detective Wood
1987
Nightflyers
Darryl
1987
A Different World
The Pin Punisher · (1 episode)
1987
Three for the Road
Clarence
1987
Timestalkers
Blacksmith
1987
Sunday Drive
Oliver
1986
L.A. Law
Judge Michael Conover · (1 episode)
1986
The Real Ghostbusters
Killerwatt (voice) · (1 episode)
1986
Extremities
Security Guard
1986
Condor
Cas
1986
Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story
Hank Dudney
1986
8 Million Ways to Die
Deputy D.A.
1986
Rambo
(65 episodes)
1986
The Ladies Club
Joe
1986
The 11th Commandment
Attendant
1986
Appointment with Fear
Connors
1985
Stoogemania
Gulch
1985
Amazing Stories
Chief Hansen · (1 episode)
1985
Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling
(41 episodes)
1985
Fletch
Detective #2
1985
Kicks
Stanley
1985
Moonlighting
Reuben King · (1 episode)
1985
Going Bananas
Hank · (12 episodes)
1984
Laugh Busters
1984
Brothers
Bubba · (1 episode)
1984
Night Court
Judge Hopkins · (1 episode)
1984
Reading Rainbow
Himself - Narrator (voice) · (2 episodes)
1983
The A-Team
Quint · (1 episode)
1983
Antony and Cleopatra
Mardian
1983
The Stunt Man
Man Playing Pinball (uncredited)
1980
The Blues Brothers
Man Dancing Outside Ray's Shop
1980
Dallas
Judge J. Fowler · (1 episode)
1978