Fans Mourn Following Announcement Of James Avery’s Passing
It has been confirmed that actor James Avery, most famous for his role as “Uncle Phil” on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air passed away on December 31, 2013 following a surgical operation. There are conflicting reports on the actors precise age. Some sources, like Huffington Post, claim Avery was 65, while others, like Today.com, claim Avery was 68. Regardless, it was a relatively early age for the actor to lose his life, and a big surprise to fans who were both entertained and touched by Avery’s performances over several years. Though Avery appeared in dozens of roles throughout his lifetime, its safe to say that fans knew Avery best as Uncle Phil, Will Smith’s strongest counterpart on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. In the series, Uncle Phil was the exemplary portrait of fatherhood balancing strictness and leniency with comedy and seriousness. Such an endearing Black father figure and role model was, and is, rarely seen in mass media. The show remains a worldwide favorite, and commentators from various regions and walks of life have expressed a sense of loss at the news of Avery’s passing. Athletes, musicians, and local newspapers alike have been commenting non-stop in the hours following the announcement.
Though the actor was in his upper 60s’, the disappointment expressed by fans shows that it was nonetheless an unexpected shock. Comment below on your reaction to the story, and whether you think his age affected your perception of the sad news.
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John Dee
