Val Avery Movies and Career Information

Val Avery (July 14, 1924 - December 12, 2009) was an American character actor who appeared in hundreds of movies and television shows since the 1950s. In a career that spanned 50 years, Avery appeared in over 100 films and had appearances in over 300 television series. Avery was born Sebouh Der Abrahamian in Philadelphia. In his early years he acted in plays with the Armenian Youth Federation. Following his service in World War II, he attended the Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama in Philadelphia. Avery was frequently cast as a gangster, or other heavy. Avery's TV roles include the Columbo episodes "A Friend in Deed" (1974), "Dead Weight" (1971), "The Most Crucial Game" (1972) and "Identity Crisis" (1975). Other TV appearances were in Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, The Munsters, The Odd Couple, Kojak, Quincy, M.E. and Law & Order. Some motion pictures Avery appeared in are the John Cassavetes's films, Too Late Blues (1961), Faces (1968), Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) and Gloria (1980). Other films include The Long, Hot Summer (1958), The Magnificent Seven (1960), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) The Wanderers (1979) and Donnie Brasco (1997). Avery