Actor. Primarily a character actor, he made over 100 screen appearances in films and television between 1950 and 1973. Born Taliaferro Ware Avery, he enlisted as a private in the US Army in May 1942 during World War II and became a 2nd Lieutenant with Armed Forces Radio. Noted for his enormous girth and cultured voice, he usually played sophisticated and articulate villains, including the featured nemesis in seven episodes of the ABC Brothers western television series, “Maverick,” between 1957 and 1962. Early in his career, he appeared as ‘Dennison’ in an episode of the 1953-1954 ABC situation comedy, “The Pride of the Family.” In 1958 he appeared in the episode “Devil to Pay” of the ABC western television series “Sugarfoot,” where he played ‘Jim Case’ the owner of a trading post. He was cast twice during this time in another ABC western television series, “Colt .45,” in the role of ‘Archer Belgrade’ of the episode “Circle of Fear” (1958) and ‘Barnes’ in the episode “Queen of Dixie” (1959). In 1960 he was cast as ‘Theodore and John Nichols’ respectively, in the episodes “Key to the City” and “False Identity” of the ABC television crime drama, “Bourbon Street Beat.” As one of several appearances in different roles on CBS television sitcom “The Andy Griffith Show,” he played ‘Ben Weaver’ in the 1964 episode “The Shoplifters.” That same year, he was cast as ‘Speaker Bert Metcalf’ on the CBS television drama series “Slattery’s People.” He appeared five times during the 1960s on the long running NBC western television series “The Virginian.” In 1966 he appeared twice on the syndicated western anthology series, “Death Valley Days” as ‘Frank Brenner’ in “The Resurrection of Deadwood Dick” and as ‘Walter Benson’ in “Doc Holliday’s Gold Bars”. About this time, he appeared in three episodes of the ABC television series “Batman” and the CBS television detective series “Mannix.” One of his last appearances was as ‘Justice Redding’ in the 1973 television movie “The Marcus-Nelson Murders,” which served as the pilot for the CBS television detective series “Kojak,” starring Telly Savalas. His film credits include “All That Heaven Allows” (1955), “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” (1955), “The Case Against Brooklyn” (1958), and “Buchanan Rides Alone” (1958). He died at the age of 57. (bio by: William Bjornstad)  Family links:  Parents:  James Harvey Avery (1874 – 1958)  Elizabeth Boyce Avery (1874 – 1962)