James Avery, father on 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' dead at 65

Actor James Avery, best known for playing the father on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," died at the age of 65 this week reportedly due to complications stemming from a recent open-heart surgery.

Avery's publicist confirmed the death, and in a Twitter message Wednesday one of the actor's former co-stars on "Fresh Prince," Alfonso Ribeiro, tweeted his sorrows.

"I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly," Ribeiro said in a tweet.

Avery's voice was heard in many animated TV series, including "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Iron Man," and he guest-starred on "That '70s Show" as a police officer.