Introduction
Val Avery (July 14, 1924 – December 12, 2009), born Sebouh Der Abrahamian, was an American character actor who appeared in hundreds of movies and television shows. In a career that spanned 50 years, Avery appeared in over 100 films and had appearances in over 300 television series.
Early life
Avery was born 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.
Acting career
Avery was frequently cast as a heavy or a low-class type.
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 include The Untouchables, The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, The Asphalt Jungle, Daniel Boone, The Twilight Zone, The Munsters, The Odd Couple, Kojak, Quincy, M.E., Law & Order, and Friday the 13th: The Series.
Some motion pictures Avery appeared in are the John Cassavetes films, Too Late Blues (1961), Faces (1968), Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) and Gloria (1980). His many film credits also included the following movies:
- The Harder They Fall (1956) as Frank (uncredited)
- Edge of the City (1957) as Brother
- The Long, Hot Summer (1958) as Wilk (uncredited)
- King Creole (1958) as Ralph (uncredited)
- Last Train from Gun Hill (1959) as Steve, Horseshoe Bartender'
- The Magnificent Seven (1960) as Henry
- Too Late Blues (1961) as Milt Frielobe
- Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) as Young fighter's promoter
- Hud (1963) as Jose
- Love with the Proper Stranger (1963) as Stein (uncredited)
- Sylvia (1965) as Pudgey Smith (uncredited)
- The Hallelujah Trail (1965) as Denver bartender
- Satan's Bed (1965)
- Wild Wild Winter (1966) as Fox
- Nevada Smith (1966) as Buck Mason
- Assault on a Queen (1966) as Trench
- Hombre (1967) as Delgado
- Faces (1968) as Jim McCarthy
- No Way to Treat a Lady (1968) as Bartender (uncredited)
- The Pink Jungle (1968) as Rodriguez
- The Brotherhood (1968) as Jake Rotherman
- Machine Gun McCain (1969) as Chuck Regan
- A Dream of Kings (1969) as Fatsas
- The Traveling Executioner (1970) as Jake
- Vanishing Point (1971) as Police Officer (uncredited)
- The Anderson Tapes (1971) as Parelli
- Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! (1971) as The Marshal
- Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) as Zelmo Swift
- The Legend of Hillbilly John (1972) as Cobart
- Black Caesar (1973) as Cardoza
- Papillon (1973) as Pascal
- The Laughing Policeman (1973) as Pappas
- Russian Roulette (1975) as Henke
- Let's Do It Again (1975) as Lt. Bottomley
- Lucky Lady (1975) as Dolph
- The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) as Blair Benoit
- Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976) as Chatsworth
- Heroes (1977) as Bus Driver
- Up in Smoke (1978) as The Hoods: Factory Boss
- Love and Bullets (1979) as Caruso
- The Wanderers (1979) as Mr. Sharp
- The Amityville Horror (1979) as Sgt. Gionfriddo
- Brubaker (1980) as Wendel
- Gloria (1980) as Sill
- The Chosen (1981) as Teacher
- Continental Divide (1981) as Yablonowitz
- Choices (1981) as Coach Rizzo
- Sharky's Machine (1981) as Man with Siakwan
- Assignment Berlin (1982) as Talaat
- Jinxed! (1982) as Milt Hawkins
- The Sting II (1983) as O'Malley
- Easy Money (1983) as Louie the Bartender
- The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) as Nunzi
- Too Scared to Scream (1985) as Dr. Richards
- Cobra (1986) as Chief Halliwell
- The Messenger (1986) as Clark
- Donnie Brasco (1997) as Trafficante
- A Fish in the Bathtub (1999) as Abe
- In the Shadows (2001) as Carlo Pierazzi
- Blueberry (2004) as Judge (final film role)
Death
Avery died on December 12, 2009 at age 85 in his Greenwich Village home.