(TIML NEWS)
Seen above in a photos posted to Alfonso Ribeiro’s Instagram, the original Banks family consisted of (from left to right): Ashley (Tatyana Ali), Carlton (Ribeiro), Hilary (Karyn Parsons), cousin Will Smith, Vivian Banks (Janet Hubert) and butler Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell). The person notably — and tragically — missing from the bunch is “Uncle Phil,” James Avery.
Avery died at the age of 68 on December 31, 2013 from complications following a heart surgery at Glendale Memorial Medical Center in California.
Although The Fresh Prince was a scripted show, Avery acted as a real-life father, uncle and mentor for many members of the cast, who were all in their younger years when the show debuted.