Emerging
Jun 18, 20261
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All My Children Alum Paul Avery and Wife Sheila Killed in House Fire

Paul Avery, an 81-year-old All My Children actor and former journalist, and his wife Sheila were killed in a house fire in Blairstown Township, New Jersey on June 16. Avery had a diverse career spanning 20 years in entertainment, over 300 commercials, and journalism before focusing on caregiving for his wife following her stroke.





Quick Facts
Who
Paul Avery
What
House fire killing Paul and Sheila Avery
When
June 16, 2026
Where
Blairstown Township, New Jersey
- House fire killing Paul and Sheila Avery
- Appeared on All My Children as bartender Hughie
- Appeared in Superman (1978) as cameraman
- Appeared in Three's Company and Soap episodes
- Voiced yellow M&M in commercials
All My Children alum Paul Avery and his wife, Sheila Garry Avery, were killed in a house fire at their home in Blairstown Township, New Jersey on June 16. The deaths were confirmed by their daughter Kyle through a Facebook post, in which she expressed her devastation and thanked the Blairstown Fire Department for their efforts.
Avery, 81, had a multifaceted career spanning entertainment, journalism, and community service. In the early 1980s, he joined the cast of All My Children as Hughie, a bartender at the fictional dive bar Foxy's located in Center City. He maintained this recurring role for 12 years, appearing in scenes that established a central friendship between characters Jenny Gardner (played by Kim Delaney) and Jesse Hubbard (played by Darnell Williams). Beyond his daytime television work, Avery appeared as a cameraman in the 1978 film Superman and in episodes of Three's Company and Soap. Over his 20-year acting career, he appeared in more than 300 commercials for major brands including AT&T, Odor Eaters, and M&M, where he provided the voice of the yellow M&M character.
Outside of entertainment, Avery pursued a remarkable range of personal interests and professional endeavors. As a teenager, he took up skydiving during its early development as a sport. He served in the Vietnam War as a helicopter crew chief and later maintained an aviation hobby for decades. Following his retirement from acting, he transitioned to journalism, writing for local New Jersey newspapers and The New York Times before founding the Ridge View Echo. In 2018, he stepped back from his civic volunteer work to become the full-time caregiver for his wife after she suffered a stroke.
Avery is survived by three children: daughters Parker and Kyle, and a son Paul, along with other family members.
Topics
Why This Matters
This tragedy underscores both the human cost of household fires and the enduring legacy of classic television actors who shaped daytime entertainment. Avery's diverse career—from soap opera recurring roles to voice acting to journalism to caregiving—reflects a generation of versatile performers whose contributions to American media spanned decades. For viewers and media historians, his passing marks the end of a living connection to 1980s daytime television and the cultural moment it represented.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 1978
WireAppeared as cameraman in Superman film
Jan 1, 1981
WireAll My Children scenes depicting Jenny Gardner meeting Jesse Hubbard at Foxy's
Jan 1, 2018
WireBecame full-time caregiver for wife Sheila after her stroke; stepped back from civic volunteer work
Jun 16, 2026
WirePaul Avery (81) and Sheila Garry Avery killed in house fire at Blairstown Township, New Jersey
Jun 18, 2026
WireDeaths confirmed publicly via Facebook by daughter Kyle