Veteran actor James Avery, best known for his iconic role as Uncle Phil Banks on the popular TV sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, died on New Year’s Eve 2013 from complications stemming from heart surgery. The accomplished actor may be gone, but his talented works still entertain audiences today.
Since his death, the cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has been remembering the iconic actor on a number of occasions. Recently, on HBO Max, Will Smith remembered Avery in a teary-eyed segment of the 30th anniversary of the sho.
A couple of years ago, the cast had a reunion captured by Alfonso Ribeiro (who played Carlton) and posted on Instagram. In the caption, Alfonso mentions the late Avery, wishing he could be there joining them. The post got thousands of likes and shares and continues to be shared on social media reminding fans of their favorite show and of course of the late James “Uncle Phil” Avery.
Avery starred in numerous TV shows, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Closer,” “L.A. Law,” and “The Jeffersons.”
As a classically trained actor and poet, Avery grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he was raised by a single mother. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and first appeared onscreen as a dancer in the film The Blues Brothers.
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common type of heart surgery done on adults. During this surgery, a healthy artery or vein is grafted (attached) to a blocked coronary (heart) artery. This allows the grafted artery to “bypass” the blocked artery and bring fresh blood to the heart.
How To Prepare For Heart Surgery
1. Tell your healthcare provider about any drugs you are taking, even over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbs. Inform them also of any illnesses, including herpes outbreak, cold, flu, or fever.
2. In the two weeks before the surgery, ask your healthcare provider if you should stop taking blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin.
3. The day before the surgery, you may be asked to wash yourself with a bacterial cleaning soap. This soap is used to kill bacteria on your skin and will lessen the chance of an infection after surgery. You may also be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight.
Throughout the preparations for surgery and the surgery itself, you will be monitored using an electrocardiogram. You may be given blood tests, urine tests and a chest X-ray to give your surgeon the latest status of your heart and health. Your healthcare provider will give you any other detailed instructions when you arrive at the hospital for surgery.
READ: The Best Snack For A Healthier Heart
Avery is survived by his wife of 26 years, Barbara Avery, his mother, Florence Avery, and a stepson, Kevin Waters.