James Avery passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at the Los Angeles hospital where he was supposed to undergo surgery as part of his treatment.
James Avery, made famous by his role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Uncle Philip Banks, succumbed to the unknown illness he's been reportedly battling against for years.

According to a media site, James Avery was recently admitted to hospital and underwent therapeutic surgery for an illness that wasn't specified by the source. Avery's wife Barbara was also present at the L.A. hospital during the time of the actor's death.

Avery starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alongside "Men In Black" star Will Smith for seven years, beginning from 1990 until 1996. 

Shortly after James Avery's death, Alfonso Ribeiro who played the role of his son in one of his movies, posted his own thoughts on the actor's death through his Twitter account.

"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 42-year-old actor shared, along with a photo of James Avery and his wife Barbara. 

Many have also expressed their sadness over the loss of the veteran actor through Twitter.

James Avery also appeared in several other television shows, including The Division, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Closer, That '70s Show and Grey's Anatomy.

No further information regarding the details of James Avery's death was disclosed by his family.