James Avery Net Worth

James Avery: The Man Behind Beloved Characters

On December 31, 2013, James Avery, a beloved American actor, passed away at the age of 68 due to complications from open-heart surgery. Even if he is no longer with us, his fans continue to remember him and everything he has accomplished throughout his successful career as an actor and writer.

Early Life and Education

Avery was born on November 27, 1945, in Pughsville, Virginia. His mother’s name was Florence J. Avery, but his father is unknown since he was removed from the birth certificate. Florence Avery moved to Atlantic City with baby James, where he spent most of his childhood.

He joined the US Navy right after high school and served in active duty during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969. After finishing service in the military, Avery began writing for PBS and earned an Emmy Award for one of his productions. He received a scholarship shortly afterward and attended UC San Diego at Thurgood Marshall College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and literature in 1976.

Career

James Avery began his career as a writer on PBS, then transitioned to acting and found success in various TV series and films. He initially landed small roles in films like ‘The Stunt Man’ and ‘The Blues Brothers’ in 198. He worked incredibly hard in the field of acting afterward, finally making a breakthrough with his roles in ‘Hill Street Blues,’ ‘L.A. Law,’ and various other shows.

What brought him career-defining success, however, was when he was cast as Philip Banks-Will Smith’s uncle in ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.’ His character became a favorite in the series, largely due to his exceptional comedic timing and chemistry with the other cast members.

Avery voiced an iconic villain character, The Shredder – in the original ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ cartoon series. He’s also lent his distinctive voice to various animated TV shows and video games, including Call of Duty, Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold through the years.

Personal Life and Death

James Avery married Barbara Avery in 1988 and was with her until his death in December 2013. Avery and Barbara shared one son together, and James was a father-figure to Barbara’s daughter’s from her previous marriage.

Avery underwent open-heart surgery two years before his death, which resulted in various health issues. He passed away on December 31, 2013, at a hospital in Glendale, California, from complications associated with that earlier surgery.

Real Estate

Avery owned multiple properties throughout his career, including a Los Feliz house he and his wife bought in 1999 for $539,000 and sold for $1.5 million just last year. Avery resided in his large Granada Hills, California, home at the time of his passing.

Net Worth Details

James Avery’s may have left this earth, but he leaves behind a formidable legacy. When he died, Avery had an estimated net worth of $3 million dollars accumulated from his work as an actor in various TV shows and films for over three decades along with highlights such as ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ and the original ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ cartoon series. Despite only several months that 2021 has passed by, celebritynetworth.com estimated it at $6 million in April 2021.

Achievements and Awards

As previously stated, Avery’s work in the industry brought him significant satights such as receiving an Emmy Award. Still, he also garnered two NAACP nominations in 1993 and 1994 for his role as Philip Banks in ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.’ Additionally, a well-known credit of James Avery was his phenomenal contribution to the immensely popular animated series ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’ voicing the series’ iconic villain, The Shredder, which was the beginning of his voice acting career.

A Closer Look Into James Avery’s Work

Even with his unmistakable looks and distinctive voice, James Avery worked incredibly hard to strive for perfection within both of his crafts-writing and acting-without sacrificing his performance quality in the industry, making him an inspiration to the generations since then.

His fascinating growth from a person of color struggling to find stable work to Grammy-winning writer and actor is an inspiring example of one undeterred by struggles.

One of Avery’s remarkable works was his minimalist appearance in NBC’s television show, ‘Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.’ Despite his minimalistic and understated character in three 60-second public service announcements promoting health care exams through Dr. Quinn medicine, Avery was described as a refined and effective presence on Friday Night Videos’ “We’re Gonna Heal the World Tonight” music video in 1985.

A Legacy Lives On Through His Fans

Since his sudden passing, legions of James Avery fans have continued to show him love, sometimes paying tribute in ways only creativity can enable. Fan art continues to pour forth for his numerous brilliant performances across their screens. Young children who grew up with his many TV series like ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ have passed their love forward through not just memory but also a streaming service as mentioned. To James’s memory- lifelong friendships depicted through a fun yet enduring show, one that remains timeless.

Final Thoughts

It hurts to look back on such a legend’s life and realize how much it changed; since his death, many of us thought we would always have him on the screen. However, even if James Avery is no longer with us today, his legacy remains intact among his loved ones and fans who continue to watch his work through multiple streaming services.