Rest In Peace, Uncle Phil

We brought the Banks family back together to talk about the impact James Avery had on the cast's lives. See more of The Fresh Prince Reunion special, now streaming on @HBO Max.

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◈ Created by Westbrook Media

Executive Producers: Will Smith, Miguel Melendez
Director: Sterling Millan
Producers: Turner Barrowman, Aaron Ferguson, Lukas Kaiser, Aidan Tanner
Editor: Mark Roe
Illustrator: Leo Natsume
Post Supervisor: Collin East
#UnclePhil #FreshPrince #WillSmith

[chriswilson]

I ran into him in Malibu back in 99. I was like “uncle Phil!!!!” He gave me a polite smile “ hello young man”

[skyebunny]

RIP Uncle Phil. One of the Best Father and Role Model.

[AlphaGamer]

that scene when will's dad rejects him and will breaks down "why doesn't he want me?" and Phil comes in and comforts will was such an emotional moment on the show, the entire audience were in absolute shock you could hear a pin drop from the silence.

[MrISWT]

Uncle Phil was the father, that fatherless children like myself, wished to have. Thank you Sir

[Ssjutsu]

“Number 1 dad in television history” no cap

[Craniacs]

“FIRST THING FIRST, RIP UNCLE PHIL ! For real . YOU THE ONLY FATHER THAT I EVER KNEW ❤️”

[ambercherise]

“That character was a father to America.”

EXACTLY.

[Harbikhs]

“Nobody does anything without help, Will. People open doors for me and I worked hard to open doors for you, It doesn't make you any less of a man to walk through them.” _James Avery 1991

[Gamartto]

James Avery wasn't acting, he was just being himself.

[donaldthescotishtwin]

I can imagine how proud James was when he saw how good a career Will got during and after Fresh Prince. Bad boys, men in black, I am legend. iRobot, hitch ect ect.

[mFabulous]

“First things first rest in peace Uncle Phil... forreal”

[flying-fijiantv]

He definitely was the dad to kids that didn’t have father figures in their lives. RIP uncle Phil

[DeltaPhoenixHawk]

His character honestly stole the show half of the times. Sorry Will, but Uncle Phil was my favorite character of the show. Heck at one point I wished he was my father since my own had passed away. Not because of the money, or power he held in his career, but because I saw just how damn great of a father he was to all the kids on the show.

[fazedafj]

Alphonso said it right “the number one dad in all of television history”
Rest easy James❤️

[moasif_]

James avery weren’t just will smith uncle, he was everyones uncle phill.

[evoak]

“I never ran out on my family cuz that’s what a man does” iconic scene gonna miss James ♥️

[nipulkradmsinatagras]

Alfonso said it best.

*The number 1 dad in all of television history.*

[jp]

Fun fact: James Avery was also the voice of Shredder in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon.

[IeshaWaysJones]

I know James Avery was playing a fictional character on tv... but he really was a father figure to everyone who didn't have one.

[JoseAlexRosales]

I am Venezuelan and I can assure you that uncle Phil was not only a father for the USA, but also for many of us here in Latin America... The way he spoke, the way he gave to Will (and many of us as spectators) lessons about life was pure and genuine. He was such a gentleman and an amazing model to follow.
RIP Uncle Phil.