The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air recently held a reunion special on HBO Max for its 20th anniversary, featuring the cast gathering together to discuss the series and its cultural impact. However, one cast member's absence was felt by all.

Will Smith recently posted a video featuring fellow Fresh Prince cast members talking about their relationship on and offset with the late James Avery (Phillip Banks) on his YouTube channel. Avery died due to complications from open-heart surgery in 2013.

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"He was a massive rock of a man, emotionally spiritually and physically," Smith recalled. Both Karyn Parsons and Joseph Marcell agreed that Avery was the "glue that held the cast together," while Janet Hubert referred to him as a "big teddy bear."

"What I treasure from James Avery is his love of Jazz and his love of the Black culture," Daphne Maxwell Reid added. "He was very invested in making sure that the young people knew what came before that." Smith also said that Avery was the 'sounding board' for all of his career decisions. "He was the one who was pushing me to elevate my craft as an actor... 'Hone your craft! You're going to find yourself in your craft!'"

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered on Sept. 10, 1990, and followed a fictionalized version of Will Smith who moves from Philadelphia to live with his aunt and uncle in Bel-Air. The series ran from 1990 to 1996, with a total of six seasons. A dramatic reboot of the series called Bel-Air is set to debut on NBC's Peacock streaming service in the near future.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion Special is currently available to stream on HBO Max.

KEEP READING: Will Smith Reenacts Classic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Scenes

Source: YouTube