James Avery (Uncle Phil on Fresh Prince)

[The Voice of Reason]

I recently saw the actor James Avery, who portrayed Uncle Phil, on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air on a television show where he was playing the role of some medical examiner. I was shocked at Avery's apperance. He looked like he lost a great deal of weight, and was in a wheelchair. The wheelchair might have been part of the role he was playing, but his physical condition made him appear sickly. Does anyone know if Avery is indeed ill or did he just decide to lose weight?

 

[larnov]

I looked all over to see if there are any reports of Health Problems and it appears that there are none,

 

[ShawnHill1]

At least from what I seen, Avery looked thinner (to me) around the final season of Fresh Prince (1995-96), and has maintained his look since then.

 

[Mark Giardina]

I recently saw the actor James Avery, who portrayed Uncle Phil, on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air on a television show where he was playing the role of some medical examiner. I was shocked at Avery's apperance. He looked like he lost a great deal of weight, and was in a wheelchair. The wheelchair might have been part of the role he was playing, but his physical condition made him appear sickly. Does anyone know if Avery is indeed ill or did he just decide to lose weight?

Avery has been featured on "The Closer" as a medical examiner who is confined to a wheelchair. I believe the wheelchair is not a necessity but just a prop similar to Raymond Burr’s character “Ironside.”

Avery does look much thinner than he has in recent years. The last time I saw him on TV was on “That 70’s Show” when he portrayed a police academy instructor. In that show he was heavier than he is now.

Whether this loss of weight is something Avery is trying to achieve for a healthier life, or if he’s sick, I’m not aware of.

 

[RicoGregg]

I went to San Diego City College with James Avery in the early 70s. He was tall and thin back then. He also had the beard and the receding hairline. If I remember correctly, he had already served 4 years in the Navy.

He was a nice guy back then, with a great sense of humor, although he was dead serious about his Theatre Arts classes.

Although I didn't stay in touch with him, and I doubt that he'd remember me now, I'm very happy for the success that he's enjoyed. He deserves it. He's worked very hard to get to where he's at.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Avery has been featured on "The Closer" as a medical examiner who is confined to a wheelchair. I believe the wheelchair is not a necessity but just a prop similar to Raymond Burr’s character “Ironside.”

Avery does look much thinner than he has in recent years. The last time I saw him on TV was on “That 70’s Show” when he portrayed a police academy instructor. In that show he was heavier than he is now.

Whether this loss of weight is something Avery is trying to achieve for a healthier life, or if he’s sick, I’m not aware of.

I've been watching earlier episodes of "The Closer" and Avery was not in a wheelchair, plus he wasn't as thin as I saw him in recently.

 

[X-Man]

I went to San Diego City College with James Avery in the early 70s. He was tall and thin back then. He also had the beard and the receding hairline. If I remember correctly, he had already served 4 years in the Navy.

He was a nice guy back then, with a great sense of humor, although he was dead serious about his Theatre Arts classes.

Although I didn't stay in touch with him, and I doubt that he'd remember me now, I'm very happy for the success that he's enjoyed. He deserves it. He's worked very hard to get to where he's at.

Funny you should mention that, even in some of his earlier roles on TV back in the earlier part of the 80's he was thin and didn't start putting on the weight until maybe mid to late 80's. But it's good to see that he's taking care of himself.

 

[MarcB]

I saw him on Will Smith's Biography on Bio Channel Preview on A&E this past weekend. I barely recognized him. Yes he's still chubby, but still he's lost a considerable amount of weight.