If you happened to google the name ‘James Avery‘ today you would be hit with two facts. Firstly, he passed away due to complications following surgery. This is sad news indeed. The second fact is that he played Uncle Phil on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
If you’re going to leave a legacy behind, being part of a cult comedy show that launched one of the biggest careers in Hollywood isn’t shabby at all. Much better than being remembered for Dr. Doolittle 2. But we can’t let the man pass without paying tribute to the other great role he brought to life. Look at that screenshot again…
It’s not the Hillary Duff movie we’re looking at.
That’s the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, the one that launched a merchandising empire and media franchise, and is still pulling in millions almost thirty years after it’s conception. I was seven when it arrived on our shores and it was HUGE in a way we’d never seen before. There was He-Man, G.I. Joe and Transformers, each coming in and out of fashion, but TMNT was the first true phenomenon of our generation.
James Avery appeared in almost every episode of the show for SEVEN YEARS and there’s a reasonable chance you never knew about it. So who was he? Well, let’s put it this way…a great hero is only half the story. The reason Batman and Spider-Man are so popular compared to their peers is because they have great villains.
That’s right…
THE SHREDDER!
The Shredder was one of the most awesome villains of Saturday morning cartoons. He looks completely badass, he had a streak of black humor and he had THAT VOICE.
His rather elaborate back story from the comics was nixed in the animated series, so instead he became a character all about style (it also means he doesn’t get impaled at the end of his first arc). We loved this guy, and his action figure became a highly valued status symbol in the play ground. For obsessive types like me it was all about the collector card.
So we thank you James Avery. Thank you for being part of the childhood of many geeks. Rest in peace.