dope black voice actors: james avery voiced villains & heroes in tmnt to iron man

A native Virginian and Vietnam vet, actor James Avery, best known as the patriarch of the Banks family, left a huge mark on film and tv, in more ways than one. As early back as 1984, Avery was voicing characters on cult classics like SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show, Rock ‘n’ Wrestling, and The Real Ghostbusters. From 1987 – 1993, Avery voiced the villainous Shredder in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series before going on to play War Machine aka James R. ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes in the 1994 Iron Man and 1996 Spider-Man tv series’. Throughout the 90s and early 2000s, Avery brought life to characters in R.L. Stine’s ‘The Nightmare Room’, The Wild Thornberrys, Pepper Ann, Aladdin, and DreamWork’s ‘The Prince Of Egypt’.

On and off-screen, the Gentle Giant paved the way for traditional and voice actors of color alike.