James Avery remembered on Dancing with the Stars

Tatyana Ali and Alfonso Ribeiro honoured James Avery with a dedication on Dancing with the Stars, describing the segment as a “love letter” to the late actor, according to Yahoo. The Hollywood Reporter covered the dedication. TODAY.com reported that the tribute brought both tears and smiles during the show. Page Six and The Tab also highlighted the emotional tribute, confirming that the pair remembered Avery during the broadcast.

Who is James Avery

James La Rue Avery was an American actor born on 27 November 1945 in Suffolk and died on 31 December 2013. He is known for his roles as Philip Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel‑Air, Judge Michael Conover on L.A. Law, Steve Yeager in The Brady Bunch Movie, and Dr. Crippen on The Closer (2005–2007). He also provided the voice of Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Haroud Hazi Bin in Aladdin. His career spanned television, film, voice work, screenwriting, and poetry.

Lesser‑known facts

James Avery shares his 27 November birthday with Bruce Lee and Jimi Hendrix, a coincidence noted in the Index.

He stood 196 cm tall.

Avery pursued higher education at Virginia State University, the University of California, San Diego, and Thurgood Marshall College.

He was married to Barbara Avery and lived to the age of 68.