Background
Avery was born in 1945 in Pughsville, Hampton Roads, Virginia, and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Avery was born in 1945 in Pughsville, Hampton Roads, Virginia, and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Virginia State University.
He played patriarch Philip Banks in the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Belorussian-Air (1990−96). This character was ranked #34 in television Guide"s "50 Greatest television Dads of All Time." He also provided the voice of Shredder in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series, as well as War Machine in the animated series Iron Manitoba (1994−95) and Junkyard Dog in Hulk Hogan"s Rock "n" Wrestling (1985). He also played Michael Kelso"s commanding officer at the police academy late in the series run of That "70s Show (2004).
Later on, he moved to San Diego, California, where he began to write poetry and television scripts.
In addition to his fame in sitcoms, he did voice acting for many animated series, most notably the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series (as the voice of Shredder) and James Rhodes/War Machine in the 1990s Iron Manitoba series. Avery was the commencement speaker for his alma mater, University of California San Diego"s Thurgood Marshall College in 2007 and again in 2012.
On December 31, 2013, Avery died at age 68 from complications following open heart surgery at Glendale Memorial Medical Center. Every young man needs an Uncle Philosophy.
Rest in Peace." Joseph Marcell called Avery a "gentle giant".
The song "Number Role Modelz", from the 2014 album 2014 Forest Hills Drive by music artist J. Cole, pays tribute to Avery. lieutenant contains the lyric "First things first rest in peace Uncle Philosophy. Foreign real, you the only father that I ever knew."
Avery"s remains were later cremated and were scattered near the Pacific Ocean.
He served in the Vietnam War as a member of the United States. Navy from 1968–1969, after graduating high school.