Barbara Avery is an American educator and higher-education professional best known as the wife of the late actor James Avery. James was famous for playing Philip “Uncle Phil” Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Barbara built her own career in higher education and was married to James from 1988 until his death in 2013.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Barbara Avery |
| Also known as | Dr. Barbara Avery |
| Reported birth date | November 30, 1944 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Educator, higher-education administrator |
| Reported education | San Diego State University |
| Known for | Wife of James Avery |
| Husband | James Avery |
| Marriage | 1988–2013 |
| Children | One son, Kevin Waters |
| Children with James Avery | None reported |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
| Current activities | Mostly private |
Barbara Avery’s Early Life
Little reliable information is available about Barbara Avery’s childhood.
One source reports that she was born on November 30, 1944. However, her birth date has not been strongly confirmed by primary public records in the information available.
If the reported date is correct, Barbara is 81 years old as of September 2026.
Her exact birthplace has not been reliably confirmed.
Details about her parents and siblings are also not publicly known.
Barbara Avery’s Education
Barbara is reported to have studied at San Diego State University.
However, details about her degree, field of study, and graduation year are not clearly documented in the available information.
She has also been publicly identified as Dr. Barbara Avery, but details about her doctoral degree are not provided in the sources reviewed.
Barbara Avery’s Career in Higher Education
Barbara had a professional career outside the entertainment industry.
She worked in higher education, with much of her reported work focused on student affairs and student services.
Her work involved supporting college students and helping manage programs connected with student life.
Several colleges and universities have been linked to her professional career.
Work at Loyola Marymount University
Barbara reportedly worked at Loyola Marymount University.
She has been described as serving as a Dean of Students.
Her role involved working with students and supporting programs related to college life.
The exact dates of her employment at Loyola Marymount are not clearly documented in the available information.
Work at Holy Names University
Barbara is also reported to have worked at Holy Names University.
Her work there was connected with student services and helping students during their university experience.
Detailed information about her exact title and years at the university is limited.
Work at Occidental College
Another institution connected to Barbara’s career is Occidental College.
She reportedly worked with student programs and services.
Public information about her exact responsibilities and employment dates is limited.
Work at the University of Michigan–Flint
Barbara has also been linked professionally to the University of Michigan–Flint.
Her reported work there involved student support and efforts to create a welcoming environment for students.
Together, these positions show that much of her professional life was centered on higher education rather than entertainment.
Was Barbara Avery a Pharmacist?
Barbara Avery is sometimes searched online in connection with other professions, including pharmacy.
However, the information reviewed does not identify her as a pharmacist.
Her known professional background is in education and higher-education administration.
Barbara Avery and James Avery’s Marriage
Barbara married actor James Avery in 1988.
Their marriage lasted until James’s death in 2013, meaning they were married for about 25 years.
James became widely known during their marriage, particularly through his work on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Barbara did not pursue the same type of public career. She continued working in education and generally kept her personal life private.
Who Was James Avery?
James Avery was an American actor and voice actor.
He is best remembered for playing Philip Banks, better known as Uncle Phil, on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
He played the Banks family patriarch throughout the show’s six-season run.
The sitcom starred Will Smith and became one of James Avery’s most recognizable television projects.
His acting career also included film, television, and voice roles.
Barbara was married to James during the period when The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made him widely known to television audiences.
Life During James Avery’s Acting Career
Barbara occasionally appeared with James at public events, but she did not become a regular entertainment personality.
Instead, she maintained her work in education.
The couple also kept many details about their marriage and home life away from public attention.
One of their reported public appearances together took place at an NKLA Pet Adoption Center event in Los Angeles in 2013.
Photos from other events also show Barbara accompanying James during his acting career.
Does Barbara Avery Have Children?
Barbara has one reported son named Kevin Waters.
Kevin is from a relationship before her marriage to James Avery.
Barbara and James did not reportedly have biological children together.
After Barbara married James, he became Kevin’s stepfather.
The supplied information describes James as an important father figure in Kevin’s life.
Little verified information is publicly available about Kevin’s birth date, biological father, education, profession, or current activities.
James Avery’s Death
James Avery died on December 31, 2013, at the age of 68.
His death followed complications after heart surgery.
Barbara and James were still married at the time.
One report states that Barbara was with James during his final hospitalization. Some secondary sources also report that she briefly left his bedside shortly before he died.
Because details about his final moments are personal and come from secondary reporting, they should be treated carefully.
James Avery’s Memorial
James Avery was cremated following his death.
According to reports, some of his ashes were placed in the ocean near Los Angeles.
His mother, Florence Avery, reportedly spoke about the special meaning of the ocean to the family.
Barbara was also reported to have helped arrange a private gathering to remember her husband.
James’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air colleagues also publicly remembered him after his death.
Barbara Avery’s Life After James Avery’s Death
Barbara largely moved away from public attention after James died.
There is little reliable information about her daily life in the years since 2013.
She has not used her connection to James to build a major entertainment or media career.
One report says she has continued living in California, but her exact current residence has not been publicly confirmed.
Did Barbara Avery Remarry?
There are no reliable reports in the information reviewed showing that Barbara remarried after James Avery’s death.
Her relationship history after 2013 remains private.
No confirmed current partner has been publicly identified.
Barbara Avery’s Current Activities
Barbara’s current activities are not well documented.
She has spent much of her life outside the entertainment spotlight, and that has continued in the years following James’s death.
There is also limited recent information about whether she remains professionally active in higher education.
Social Media
Barbara does not appear to maintain a major public social media presence.
No clearly verified public Instagram, Facebook, or X account belonging to her was identified in the information reviewed.
This is consistent with the private life she has maintained outside her occasional public appearances with James.
Barbara Avery’s Net Worth
Barbara Avery’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some websites estimate that she is worth between $1 million and $2 million.
However, this figure has not been supported by reliable financial records or a public statement from Barbara.
It is therefore better treated as an unverified online estimate rather than a confirmed net worth.
Interesting Facts
- Barbara Avery is best known as the wife of actor James Avery.
- She has also been identified publicly as Dr. Barbara Avery.
- Her reported birthday is November 30, 1944, but the date is not strongly confirmed.
- She reportedly studied at San Diego State University.
- Her career was in higher education.
- She reportedly worked in student affairs and student services.
- Her career has been linked with Loyola Marymount University.
- She has also been linked professionally with Holy Names University.
- Occidental College and the University of Michigan–Flint are also reported as part of her career.
- Barbara married James Avery in 1988.
- They remained married until his death in 2013.
- Their marriage lasted about 25 years.
- Barbara has one son, Kevin Waters, from an earlier relationship.
- James Avery was Kevin’s stepfather.
- Barbara and James did not reportedly have biological children together.
- James was best known as Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
- James died on December 31, 2013, at age 68.
- Barbara has maintained a private life since his death.
- There is no reliable information showing that she remarried.
- Her current residence is not publicly confirmed.
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