Val Avery - A fan favorite

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Val Avery was born as Sebouh Der Abrahamian on July 14, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His career spanned over 50 years, during which he appeared in over 100 films and had appearances in over 300 television episodes.

Avery was born to Armenian parents Megerdich and Arousiag Der Abrahamian. His early years were spent acting in plays with the Armenian Youth Federation. After serving in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, he attended the Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama in Philadelphia.

Avery was frequently cast as tough or low-class types, such as policemen, thugs, mobsters, bartenders, and blue-collar workers. He made his film debut with an uncredited role in "The Harder They Fall" (1956), the last film of Humphrey Bogart. His many film credits also include "The Long, Hot Summer" (1958), "The Magnificent Seven" (1960), "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1962), "Hud" (1963), "Papillon" (1973), "The Wanderers" (1979), "The Pope of Greenwich Village" (1984), "Cobra" (1986), and "Donnie Brasco" (1997).

Columbo

In my biased opinion some of Avery's best work was on Columbo.

Dead Weight

Avery made his debut in Dead Weight as Mr. Barnes, the boat rental owner who gives out a bit too much customer information.


His role in the episode isn't very big, but he hits it nicely with just the right mix of personable dry humor.

The Most Crucial Game

In season 2's The Most Crucial Game Avery is again wonderfully cast as the private investigator Ralph Dobbs. Maybe one of his most underrated moments is when he's breaking back into Eric Wagner's house to retrieve his phone taps and a mystery dog trots out to greet him. Without breaking character Avery pets the dog and continues the scene, as the friendly pooch watches.

A Friend in Deed

Avery is back again in season 3 in his meatiest Columbo role. In A Friend in Deed he's professional burglar turned police asset Artie Jessup. His scenes both with and without Falk are pretty solid, but the exchange with him and Falk in The Lariat when Jessup agrees to become Falk's ally are especially good.
"I'm a professional, we both know that."

He's key to the gotcha at the end and, you can see he's impressed with how Columbo sprung the trap.

 

Identity Crisis

Avery is back one last time, in a pretty minor role, as the bartender in Identity Crisis. Would have liked for him to have a more significant role, but he did well in the bits that he had.

Personal life

Avery and actress Margot Stevenson were married from 1953 until his death. Their daughter, Margot Avery, is also an actress.

Val Avery passed away on December 12, 2009, at age 85 in his home in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. 

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