Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Nearly a week after Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's Alfonso Ribeiro announced James Avery's death on his Facebook page, Will Smith took to the social-networking site to remember "Uncle Phil" as his mentor.
"Some of my greatest lessons in Acting, Living and being a respectable human being came through James Avery," the 45-year-old actor wrote. "Every young man needs an Uncle."
Smith also shared a photo of "the last time we were together," a group snap that included Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali and Karyn Parsons.
Avery died New Year's Eve from complications following heart surgery.
Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, also paid tribute to the late actor on her own Facebook page, sending condolences to his wife Barbara and his mother Florence.
