After his run as the Banks family patriarch, Avery starred as Alonzo Sparks in the UPN comedy series Sparks, which ran for two seasons. Other TV roles included Dr. Crippen in The Closer, Charles Haysbert in The Division, and Officer Kennedy in That '70s Show, among several others. He remained married to his wife, Barbara Avery (whom he married in 1988), until December 31, 2013, when Avery sadly passed away at the age of 68 due to complications following open heart surgery.