James Avery

James La Rue Avery (November 27, 1945, Pughsville, Virginia -- December 31, 2013, Glendale, California) was an American actor and voice actor best known for playing Philip Banks, the imposing yet warm-hearted patriarch, on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990--1996), and for providing the iconic voice of the Shredder in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series. In animation, he was a recurring guest voice actor on The Real Ghostbusters and later appeared in Extreme Ghostbusters.

Early life and education

Avery was born in Pughsville, Virginia, a community that is now part of Suffolk, Virginia. His mother was Florence J. Avery; his father denied paternity and was not listed on his birth certificate.¹ The family moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where Avery attended and graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1963.¹

After high school, Avery served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969.¹ Following his discharge, he settled in San Diego, California, where he enrolled at San Diego Community College. His first stage role came in 1971, when he played God in the play J.B. at San Diego Community College.¹ He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and literature from UC San Diego's Thurgood Marshall College in 1976.¹ While in San Diego, he also wrote television scripts and poetry for PBS, and he won an Emmy Award for producing Ameda Speaks: Poet James Avery.¹