What Happened to Paul Avery?

Paul Avery, born around 1941, led a multifaceted life that spanned acting, journalism, military service, and dedicated community involvement. His early life saw him as an accomplished skydiver and an avid motorcyclist. He served in the United States National Guard and spent a year as a helicopter crew chief in the Vietnam War.

His career in entertainment began in the 1970s, where he spent two decades in Hollywood. Avery appeared in over 300 commercials and had guest-starring roles in popular television shows like 'Soap' and 'Three's Company.' He also had a small part as a cameraman in the original 1978 'Superman' movie. His most notable acting role was a 12-year tenure as Hughie, the scandalous bartender at Foxy's, on the long-running soap opera 'All My Children.'

After his acting career, Avery transitioned into journalism and community work. He wrote movie reviews for the New Jersey Herald and was a beat reporter for the Gazette in Hackettstown. He also contributed to The New York Times and various national magazines. A significant turning point in his later life was founding and serving as the executive editor of the 'Ridge View Echo,' an online newspaper for his adopted hometown of Blairstown, New Jersey. He was instrumental in creating the Blairstown Enhancement Committee (BEC), a non-profit organization focused on community improvement.

Avery was also deeply engaged in local politics, serving on the township's land use board, the North Warren Regional High School Board of Education, and for six years on the Blairstown Township Committee from 2012 to 2018. His political career concluded when he became the full-time caregiver for his wife, Sheila, after she suffered a stroke. Paul Avery and his wife, Sheila Garry Avery, tragically passed away on June 16, 2026, at their home in Blairstown, New Jersey, due to a house fire. Emergency crews responded to the engulfed residence, but both were pronounced dead shortly after being pulled from the flames. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. His passing left a significant void in the community, with colleagues remembering him as 'the most interesting man in the world' due to his diverse accomplishments.