James Avery of 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air' fame dies

James Avery as Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

James Avery, the actor famous for his role as the judge "Uncle Phil" Banks in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, has died. He was 68.

Avery's publicist, Cynthia Snyder, said the actor had died Tuesday (US time).

She did not immediately know the cause of death or where he died.

Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Banks' son, Carlton, in the show, tweeted: "I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly."

I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly. pic.twitter.com/UrW0EeBFbO

Avery's stern patriarch often clashed with a young Will Smith's cool teenage protagonist in the popular US show from the 1990s.

He also voiced the villain Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

- UK Independent