James Avery
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- 27 November 1945 · Pughsville [now Suffolk], Virginia, USA
- Died
- 31 December 2013
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
Acting 76
- 2025The Fesh Pince of Blair as Philip Banks
- 2014Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as Self
- 2014Wish I Was Here as Audition Actor #2
- 2013Hunt for the Labyrinth Killer as Judge Parsons
- 2013Call Me Crazy: A Five Film as Dr. Beckett
- 2012Stars in Shorts as Haig
- 2010Not Your Time as Haig
- 2009Steppin: The Movie as The Chancellor
- 2008Divine Intervention as Rev. Matthews
- 2007Who's Your Caddy? as Caddy Mack
- 2006Danika as Teddy Johnson
- 2006Think Tank as Uncle John
- 2005Spider-Man: The Venom Saga as Jim Rhodes / War Machine (voice)
- 2005Wheelmen as Vice President
- 2005The Third Wish as George
- 2005Lethal Eviction as Gus Winter
- 2005Grey's Anatomy as Sam · 1 episode
- 2004Hair Show as Seymour Gold
- 2004Raise Your Voice as Mr. Gantry
- 2002Nancy Drew as Prof. Shifflin
- 2001Epoch as Dr. Solomon Holt
- 2001The Nightmare Room: Scareful What You Wish For as R.L. Stine
- 2001Dr. Dolittle 2 as Eldon
- 2001Honeybee
- 2001Dancing in September as Mr. Warner
- 2000CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Preston Cash · 1 episode
- 1999Out in Fifty as Cappy
- 1998The Prince of Egypt as Additional Voices (voice)
- 1998You Lucky Dog as Calvin Bridges
- 1998Quincy Jones... The First 50 Years as Self
- 1998The Advanced Guard as Fred, Captive Security Guard
- 1997Spirit Lost as Dr. Glidden
- 1995Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale as The Headman
- 1995The Brady Bunch Movie as Mr. Steve Yeager
- 1994Midnight Ramble as Narrator
- 1994A Friend to Die For as Agent Gilwood
- 1994Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die as Chess Player
- 1993Little Miss Millions as Agent Noah Hollander
- 1993Without Warning: Terror in the Towers as Fred Derby
- 1992Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Turtles' Awesome Easter as Shredder (voice)
- 1991Shout as Midnight Rider (voice)
- 1991Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Planet of the Turtleoids as Shredder (voice)
- 1991Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles at the Earth's Core as Splinter (voice)
- 1991Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time as Lt. Coberly
- 1991The Linguini Incident as Phil
- 1991Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Attack of the Big MACC as Shredder (voice)
- 1990To My Daughter as Ian Mellon
- 1990Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop as Shredder (voice)
- 1990Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga, Shredhead as Shredder (voice)
- 1989Turn Back the Clock as Fred (uncredited)
- 1989Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Incredible Shrinking Turtles as Shredder (voice)
- 1989Roe vs. Wade
- 1989Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal as Earl
- 1988Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Epic Begins as Shredder (voice)
- 1988Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Hot Rodding Teenagers as Shredder (voice)
- 1988Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Heroes in a Halfshell as Shredder (voice)
- 1988License to Drive as Les' DMV examiner
- 1987Deadly Daphne's Revenge as Detective Wood
- 1987Nightflyers as Darryl
- 1987Three for the Road as Clarence
- 1987Timestalkers as Blacksmith
- 1986Sunday Drive as Oliver
- 1986Extremities as Security Guard
- 1986Condor as Cas
- 1986Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story as Hank Dudney
- 19868 Million Ways to Die as Deputy D.A.
- 1986The Ladies Club as Joe
- 1986The 11th Commandment as Attendant
- 1985Appointment with Fear as Connors
- 1985Stoogemania as Gulch
- 1985Fletch as Detective #2
- 1985Kicks as Stanley
- 1984Laugh Busters
- 1983Antony and Cleopatra as Mardian
- 1980The Stunt Man as Diner Patron (uncredited)
- 1980The Blues Brothers as Man Dancing Outside Ray's Shop