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
The Blues Brothers
(1980)
Man Dancing Outside Ray's Shop
The Prince of Egypt
(1998)
Additional Voices (voice)
Dr. Dolittle 2
(2001)
Eldon
License to Drive
(1988)
Les' DMV examiner
Fletch
(1985)
Detective #2
Wish I Was Here
(2014)
Audition Actor #2
The Stunt Man
(1980)
Man Playing Pinball (uncredited)
Raise Your Voice
(2004)
Mr. Gantry
Stars In Shorts
(2012)
Haig
8 Million Ways to Die
(1986)
Deputy D.A.
Who's Your Caddy?
(2007)
Caddy Mack
The Brady Bunch Movie
(1995)
Mr. Steve Yeager
Danika
(2006)
Teddy Johnson
Extremities
(1986)
Security Guard
A Friend to Die For
(1994)
Agent Gilwood
Epoch
(2001)
Dr. Solomon Holt
Full Filmography
Acting
The Stunt Man
(1980)
Man Playing Pinball (uncredited)
The Blues Brothers
(1980)
Man Dancing Outside Ray's Shop
Antony and Cleopatra
(1983)
Mardian
Laugh Busters
(1984)
Kicks
(1985)
Stanley
Appointment with Fear
(1985)
Connors
Fletch
(1985)
Detective #2
8 Million Ways to Die
(1986)
Deputy D.A.
The Ladies Club
(1986)
Joe
Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story
(1986)
Hank Dudney
Stoogemania
(1986)
Gulch
The 11th Commandment
(1986)
Attendant
Sunday Drive
(1986)
Oliver
Condor
(1986)
Cas
Extremities
(1986)
Security Guard
Timestalkers
(1987)
Blacksmith
Nightflyers
(1987)
Darryl
Deadly Daphne's Revenge
(1987)
Detective Wood
Three for the Road
(1987)
Clarence
License to Drive
(1988)
Les' DMV examiner
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Epic Begins
(1988)
Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Heroes in a Halfshell
(1988)
Shredder (voice)
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal
(1989)
Earl
Roe vs. Wade
(1989)
To My Daughter
(1990)
Ian Mellon
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Attack of the Big MACC
(1991)
Shredder (voice)
The Linguini Incident
(1991)
Phil
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Planet of the Turtleoids
(1991)
Shredder (voice)
Shout
(1991)
Midnight Rider (voice)
Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time
(1991)
Lt. Coberly
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Turtles' Awesome Easter
(1992)
Shredder (voice)
Little Miss Millions
(1993)
Agent Noah Hollander
Without Warning: Terror in the Towers
(1993)
Fred Derby
A Friend to Die For
(1994)
Agent Gilwood
Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die
(1994)
Chess Player
Midnight Ramble
(1994)
Narrator
The Brady Bunch Movie
(1995)
Mr. Steve Yeager
Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale
(1995)
The Headman
Spirit Lost
(1997)
Dr. Glidden
You Lucky Dog
(1998)
Calvin Bridges
Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years
(1998)
Self
The Advanced Guard
(1998)
Fred, Captive Security Guard
The Prince of Egypt
(1998)
Additional Voices (voice)
Out in Fifty
(1999)
Cappy
The Nightmare Room: Scareful What You Wish For
(2001)
R.L. Stine
Dancing in September
(2001)
Mr. Warner
Honeybee
(2001)
Epoch
(2001)
Dr. Solomon Holt
Dr. Dolittle 2
(2001)
Eldon
Nancy Drew
(2002)
Prof. Shifflin
Raise Your Voice
(2004)
Mr. Gantry
Hair Show
(2004)
Seymour Gold
Lethal Eviction
(2005)
Gus Winter
Wheelmen
(2005)
Vice President
The Third Wish
(2005)
George
Danika
(2006)
Teddy Johnson
Think Tank
(2006)
Uncle John
Who's Your Caddy?
(2007)
Caddy Mack
Divine Intervention
(2008)
Rev. Matthews
Steppin : The Movie
(2009)
The Chancellor
Not Your Time
(2010)
Haig
Stars In Shorts
(2012)
Haig
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
(2013)
Dr. Beckett
Hunt for the Labyrinth Killer
(2013)
Judge Parsons
Wish I Was Here
(2014)
Audition Actor #2