How Much is James Avery Worth? James Avery's Assets & Salary - Is the Star a Billionaire? Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

As one of the most talked-about figures, James Avery has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.

What Was James Avery's net worth?

James Avery was an American actor who had a net worth of $3 million at the time of his death. James Avery was probably most famous for playing Judge Philip Banks on the NBC sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." The show, which starred an up-and-comingWill Smith, aired 148 episodes across six seasons from September 1990 to May 1996. In addition to his work on "Fresh Prince," James appeared in dozens of movies and television shows in a career that stretched more than three decades. Another notable credit was providing the voice of Shredder on the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" cartoon series. Avery died on December 31, 2013, at a hospital in Glendale, California, from complications related to open heart surgery. He was 68 years old.

Early Life

James Avery was born on November 27, 1945, in Pughsville, Virginia. He was the son of Florence J. Avery. His father was not listed on his birth certificate as he denied paternity. With his mother, he moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey as a child. After completing high school, Avery eventually served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was on active duty from 1968 to 1969. Afterward, he moved to San Diego, California, where he began working as a writer for PBS, creating television scripts. James additionally enjoyed writing poetry. During this time, he won an Emmy Award for one of the productions he helped create and soon afterward received a scholarship to UC San Diego, where he attended Thurgood Marshall College. In 1976, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and literature.

Career

After a successful career writing for television, Avery began pursuing work as an actor himself. He initially began booking minor roles in films like "The Stunt Man" and "The Blues Brothers" in 1980. In 1983, he landed roles in television series and films like "Tales of the Gold Monkey," "Newhart," "The Jeffersons," and "Simon & Simon," among others. In 1984, he appeared in "Hill Street Blues," "Legmen," "Hardcastle & McCormick," The Dukes of Hazzard," and Brothers."

In 1985, Avery appeared in episodes of "St. Elsewhere," "Cagney & Lacey," "Kicks," "Space," "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," "George BurnsComedy Week," "The A-Team," and "Moonlighting," He also appeared in the films "Fletch," "Appointment with Fear," and "Stoogemania." The next year, James had roles in "Fist of the North Star," "8 Million Ways to Die," and "Extremities." Throughout the rest of the decade, he continued working steadily in both film and television. He appeared in the film "Nightflyers" in 1987 and "License to Drive" in 1988. He also had a voice role in three episodes of "The Real Ghostbusters" at the end of the decade and appeared in five episodes of "Amen."

Avery booked a notable role in 1987 when he landed the voice role of Shredder in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." He voiced the character for 103 episodes until 1993. From 1988 to 1992, he appeared in nine episodes of "L.A. Law."

Ultimately, James Avery's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.