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James Avery, most well-known for the role of Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, died yesterday due to complications from open-heart surgery. He was 68. “I’m deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly,” former on-screen son Alfonso Ribeiro announced on Twitter today. While actor and writer Avery lent his vocal talent to a variety of animated roles including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Shredder and Iron Man’s James Rhodes, children of the nineties will remember him best for the sputtering frustration, sonorous voice, and jacquard sweaters of Will Smith’s perfect parental foil. In his memory, enjoy a video of Uncle Phil at his most voluptuously intimidating.
