Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star James Avery has died from complications from open heart surgery in Glendale, his manager and publicist confirm to The Hollywood Reporter. Avery was 68. 'Fresh Prince,' 'Martin,' 'Wayans Bros.' Coming to BET Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Avery's TV son on the sitcom, broke the news on New Year's Day on social media. "I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly," the actor wrote on Twitter. In a posting on Facebook, Ribeiro said that "The world has lost a truly special man." James Avery