Emmy Award-winning actor, producer and scriptwriter James Avery Sr. was born on November 27, 1948 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Upon graduating from high school, he joined up with the United States Navy and served on a tour of duty in the Vietnam war from 1960 to 1969. After his military service, he then moved to San Diego and began working for PBS, writing TV scripts for the station. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and Literature from the University of California in San Diego. He has worked on a number of television series such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Iron Man, That 70s Show,
CSI , and
The Closer .
Philip Banks is portrayed by James Avery in the classic NBC television sitcom
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air . A successful lawyer and the head of the Banks family household, he is Will's uncle who has a gruff and authoritarian personality. While he is strict, he is also a model citizen, and tries to hide a softer and caring side. However, he does have a temper, especially when his reputation and honor is involved. He also has a tendency to be a penny-pinching cheapskate and selfish when it comes to money, even forcing their butler Geoffrey to quit at one point when his salary is cut extremely low.
(Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.)