Paul Avery, ‘All My Children’ Actor, and Wife Die in New Jersey House Fire

Paul Avery, a character actor known for his role as Hughie the bartender on the ABC daytime soap “All My Children,” and his wife, Sheila Avery, died in a house fire in Blairstown, New Jersey, according to their daughters, Parker Sanchez and Kyle Avery. The couple, aged 81 and 77, succumbed to smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at their home on Tuesday morning, with firefighters unable to save them despite reaching the scene, the daughters said.

Fire Under Investigation, Legacy of a Versatile Career

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with no immediate details released by local authorities. Paul Avery, who had a 12-year run on “All My Children,” also appeared in the 1978 film “Superman,” the sitcom “Three’s Company,” and over 300 commercials. His daughters recounted his humor about his “elastic face” landing him multiple national ads, which sometimes conflicted with his acting career. “He had a teeny tiny part — one line in Superman — but boy did he make a meal out of that,” Sanchez said, adding that Paul once received a tinfoil Oscar at the Academy Awards after a friend surprised him with a makeshift trophy.

From Vietnam Veteran to Community Builder

Paul Avery, born in 1941, served in the Vietnam War before moving to Los Angeles and later New York to pursue acting. Sheila Avery, a registered nurse and theater enthusiast, met him in the late 1970s while they both lived in an apartment building filled with actors. The couple, who married in 1984, celebrated their 42nd anniversary in April. They relocated to Blairstown, New Jersey, after Paul’s love for small-plane flying led them to the town, where they opened a bookstore and launched a local magazine, the Warren County Companion.

Sheila Avery’s Impact in Advocacy and Education

Sheila Avery, who studied theater and worked on a USO tour in Vietnam, later combined her nursing background with her passion for theater by counseling survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Her daughters described her work as transformative, with many recipients of her training later crediting her for shaping their perspectives on feminism. “People who took her training 20 years ago have been contacting us and saying, ‘Your mother changed the way I thought about the world,’” Sanchez said.

Community Icons Known for Their Generosity

The couple were described by their daughters as “community builders” who hosted annual events like “Faux Giving,” featuring quirky traditions such as a head-measuring contest. “They loved to throw parties,” Sanchez said, noting their dedication to fostering connection. Paul and Sheila are survived by their children, grandchildren, and Paul’s son from a previous relationship. Their legacy includes a career spanning entertainment, education, and civic service, with their daughters emphasizing their parents’ “sense of duty to the people around them.”