James Avery, best known as Uncle Phil from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", died on Wednesday due to complication from open-heart surgery. The actor's hit sitcom's costars took to social media to react to the news of the 68-year-old's death.
"James was my teacher my protector & the most magnificent actor. We're feeling his loss very deeply. He'll always be apart of me," Tatyana Ali, who played Avery's daughter Ashley on the show, posted on her Twitter account.
Ali posted several tweets honoring Avery's memory, including a photo of the two on the set of "Fresh Prince". Joseph Marcell, better know as the butler Geoffrey, told CNN Avery was "a marvelous man and a truly wonderful actor."
Alfonso Ribeiro took to his official Facebook account to share the news with his fan. He posted a photo of Avery and his wife Barbara and captioned the image:
"The world has lost a truly special man. I am very saddened to say that James Avery has passed. Even though he played my father on TV, he was a wonderful father figure to me in life. He will be deeply missed."
A poem of friendship by Nikki Giovanni: We are not lovers because of the love we make but the love we have pic.twitter.com/H0HhqmEwjo
— Tatyana Ali (@TatyanaAli) January 2, 2014
Actor Will Smith, the star of "Fresh Prince", has yet to comment about the Avery's death. However, Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith took to her official Facebook account to send her condolences to Avery's loved ones on behalf of her family.
"Happy New Year everyone! I was hoping to start the new year differently but we have lost yet another friend. James Avery who we all lovingly know as Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince has passed," Smith wrote. "Our condolences to aunt Florence (his mother), Miss Barbara (his wife) and all those who loved him. Rest in peace James."
Check out the fan-made reel of James Avery best Uncle Phil moments on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air".
