Paul Avery, an actor celebrated for his roles in the soap opera All My Children and the 1978 film Superman, has died alongside his wife in a devastating house fire in Blairstown, New Jersey. The incident occurred early Tuesday morning, shortly after 12:30 a.m., when New Jersey State Police responded to reports of a fully engulfed home.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered the couple unresponsive inside the house. Despite efforts to revive them, both were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
In a heartfelt statement shared on social media, their daughter, Kyle Avery, expressed her devastation, saying, “I’m devastated to share that our parents, Paul and Sheila Garry Avery, passed away early this morning. We loved them so much, and they loved us so much, and nobody ever had to wonder if that was so.”
Paul Avery was known for his portrayal of bartender Hughie in All My Children and appeared in Christopher Reeve’s first Superman film. His television credits also include roles in Three’s Company and Tales From the Darkside.
Beyond his acting career, Avery was an active member of his community. He served as a committeeman in Blairstown, was a long-time member of the local Rotary Club, and worked as a newspaper editor for the Ridge View Echo, a local news outlet he helped establish.
A Vietnam veteran, Avery was a helicopter pilot who enjoyed flying gliders at the Blairstown Airport on Sunday mornings. His wife, Sheila, was recognized locally as an accomplished artist but had suffered a stroke in 2018, requiring full-time caregiving, a role Paul embraced wholeheartedly.
