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)
Fletch
(1985)
Detective #2
Dr. Dolittle 2
(2001)
Eldon
Raise Your Voice
(2004)
Mr. Gantry
License to Drive
(1988)
Les' DMV examiner
Wish I Was Here
(2014)
Audition Actor #2
8 Million Ways to Die
(1986)
Deputy D.A.
The Brady Bunch Movie
(1995)
Mr. Steve Yeager
Timestalkers
(1987)
Blacksmith
Hair Show
(2004)
Seymour Gold
Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time
(1991)
Lt. Coberly
The Stunt Man
(1980)
Man Playing Pinball (uncredited)
Lethal Eviction
(2005)
Gus Winter
Extremities
(1986)
Security Guard
Shout
(1991)
Midnight Rider (voice)
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
Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story
(1986)
Hank Dudney
Condor
(1986)
Cas
Extremities
(1986)
Security Guard
The Ladies Club
(1986)
Joe
8 Million Ways to Die
(1986)
Deputy D.A.
The 11th Commandment
(1986)
Attendant
Stoogemania
(1986)
Gulch
Sunday Drive
(1986)
Oliver
Nightflyers
(1987)
Darryl
Timestalkers
(1987)
Blacksmith
Three for the Road
(1987)
Clarence
Deadly Daphne's Revenge
(1987)
Detective Wood
License to Drive
(1988)
Les' DMV examiner
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Heroes in a Halfshell
(1988)
Shredder (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Epic Begins
(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: Planet of the Turtleoids
(1991)
Shredder (voice)
The Linguini Incident
(1991)
Phil
Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time
(1991)
Lt. Coberly
Shout
(1991)
Midnight Rider (voice)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Attack of the Big MACC
(1991)
Shredder (voice)
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
Midnight Ramble
(1994)
Narrator
Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die
(1994)
Chess Player
Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale
(1995)
The Headman
The Brady Bunch Movie
(1995)
Mr. Steve Yeager
Spirit Lost
(1997)
Dr. Glidden
The Prince of Egypt
(1998)
Additional Voices (voice)
The Advanced Guard
(1998)
Fred, Captive Security Guard
You Lucky Dog
(1998)
Calvin Bridges
Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years
(1998)
Self
Out in Fifty
(1999)
Cappy
Dr. Dolittle 2
(2001)
Eldon
Epoch
(2001)
Dr. Solomon Holt
Dancing in September
(2001)
Mr. Warner
The Nightmare Room: Scareful What You Wish For
(2001)
R.L. Stine
Honeybee
(2001)
Nancy Drew
(2002)
Prof. Shifflin
Raise Your Voice
(2004)
Mr. Gantry
Hair Show
(2004)
Seymour Gold
The Third Wish
(2005)
George
Wheelmen
(2005)
Vice President
Lethal Eviction
(2005)
Gus Winter
Think Tank
(2006)
Uncle John
Danika
(2006)
Teddy Johnson
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