Will Smith shares heartbreaking tribute to Uncle Phil

Will Smith has shared a heartbreaking tribute for his former co-star James Avery during a virtual meeting with the cast of the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

In the two-part finale to his Snapchat series, Will at Home, Smith brought the group together for the first time in decades to celebrate the show’s 30 years.

Fans were thrilled to see the 1990 comedy television family on a screen again, except for the much-loved actor who played Will’s uncle.

Avery died at age 65 on New Years Eve in 2014, after heart complications.

During a video call, Will joined such characters as Daphne Reid, Tatyana Ali, Alfonso RIbiero, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Karyn Parsons and Joseph Marcel, who watched as he played a tribute to his former cast member.

While the video was playing, viewers could see the reactions on all the faces of the stars, and were crying for their dear friend.

After the short clip came to an end, Smith wiped a tear from his eye, and said, “That only makes me cry … James Avery, James Avery, James Avery.”

Daphne Reid, also with tears in her eyes, said: “I loved that man.”

Smith later shared the shocking video on Instagram writing, “Our show would not have been MEDIUM what it was without the talent and light that James Avery was. We all love and miss you, James.”

Smith had arranged the meeting in hopes of cheering fans up during the current Covid-19 crash as they celebrated 30 years since the show’s debut.

“It is a beautiful pause button so we can stop and think about what is really necessary,” he said of the current pandemic.

“How often do we make a call and say, ‘Hi, how are you?'”

Just at the right time, Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton) joked with his friend and joked, “This is the first time!”

Later in the episode, Smith told the crew that they are his second family.

“I have been shaped by my interactions and relationships … When I look back, the best moments of my life will have been on that set,” he said.

At the end of last year, Will Smith was rumored to be working on a Fresh Prince spinoff.