Actor Will Smith publicly paid his respects to “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” co-star James Avery, who died Dec. 31, according to The-Star.com.

Avery died of complications from open heart surgery. He was 68.

Sunday, Jan. 5, Smith posted a tribute to the late actor on Facebook. “Some of my greatest lessons in acting, living and being a respectable human being came through James Avery.”

Avery played the successful lawyer and judge, Phillip Banks, who was the uncle of Will Smith’s character on “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” The popular television series ran from 1990 to 1996.

Smith’s message included an image of the cast of the show, with him and Avery, as well as actors Tatyana M. Ali, Karyn Parsons and Alfonso Ribeiro. Smith noted that the photo “was the last time we were together.”

“Every young man needs an Uncle Phil,” Smith shared. “Rest in Peace.”

Avery’s “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” costar Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Uncle Phil’s son Carlton Banks, also honored the late actor via social media: “He was a second father to me,” Ribeiro tweeted on New Year’s Day. “I will miss him greatly.”

Share your favorite Uncle Phil moment in the comments section.