James Avery

James La Rue Avery (1945–2013) was an American actor best known for his roles as Philip Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Judge Michael Conover on L.A. Law, Steve Yeager in The Brady Bunch Movie, Haroud Hazi Bin in Aladdin, and Dr. Crippen on The Closer. Born on November 27, 1945, in Pughsville, Virginia (now Suffolk, Virginia), Avery grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War before pursuing a career in acting. Avery earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and literature from UC San Diego after attending Thurgood Marshall College. Throughout his career, he received recognition for his talent and won an Emmy for production.