When Uncle Phil actor James Avery passed away on New Year's Eve in 2013 from complications following open-heart surgery, the actor left an untold amount of heart-broken Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fans in his wake. For many, Philip "Uncle Phil" Banks was a role model, a mentor, and much more than just another character adding love, light, and levity to some of Bel-Air's more intense messages about pride, bigotry, and perseverance. Avery brought much to the iconic '90s sitcom, and now the finale to Will Smith's Snapcat show, Will From Home, is bringing some love to Uncle Phil with a touching tribute that celebrates one of the greatest television fathers of all time.
For the final episode of Will From Home, Smith and the rest of the Fresh Prince cast — Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid and DJ Jazzy Jeff — gathered around the old laptop to experience a powerful and moving tribute, featuring some of Avery's most memorable moments as Judge, Lawyer and Activist Philip Banks.
You can watch the cast react to the tribute below. Also, you might want to have a box of tissues handy, because things get super weepy before the video is through. Don't say that I didn't warn you.
What? I'm not crying. You're the one who's crying!
Today's Will From Home video marks the first time that the Fresh Prince cast have reunited since the show ended its six-season run in May of 1996.
Here's to James Avery, may his memory shine as bright as all the love and light he brought to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.