Tatyana Ali will be paying tribute to James Avery, who played her father on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, during Dedication Night on Dancing With the Stars. More than a decade after Avery’s death, Ali said rehearsals with partner Jan Ravnik have been “emotional and really painstaking, but in a good way.”
She described Avery as “the heart of” Fresh Prince and told The Hollywood Reporter, “He was a mentor to me. Everything I am as an artist had to do with all the things I learned while working with him. He was that kind of person who just shared his passion for the arts with the people that he loved.”
For the special dedication, Ali will be joined by DWTS host Alfonso Ribeiro, who played her older brother on Fresh Prince, on the dance floor. Scroll down for a refresher on what happened to Avery ahead of the sure-to-be emotional number.
When did James Avery die?
Avery died on December 31, 2013, at Glendale Memorial Medical Center. He was 68 years old at the time of his death. Avery’s body was cremated, with his ashes scattered into the ocean off the coast of Los Angeles.
Courtesy: Everett Collection
What happened to James Avery?
Avery’s cause of death was complications from open heart surgery, his manager confirmed to CNN. He had bypass surgery on November 11, 2013, after suffering a heart attack, then died seven weeks later.
Per his autopsy report, obtained by TMZ, Avery officially died from cardiorespiratory arrest, which is “the sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm,” according to Mayo Clinic.
What were James Avery’s health issues?
The actor’s death certificate also revealed that he had been suffering various health issues at his time of death. He had severe coronary heart disease, end-stage kidney disease, and type-2 diabetes.
Dancing With the Stars, Season 35, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+