Val Avery , born Sebouh Der Abrahamian, was an American character actor who appeared in hundreds of movies and television shows since the 1950s. In a career that spanned 50 years, Avery appeared in over 100 films and had appearances in over 300 television series. Avery was born in Philadelphia. In his early years he acted in plays with the Armenian Youth Federation. Following his service in World War II, he attended the Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama in Philadelphia. Avery's pock-marked face and shifty appearance allowed him to frequently be cast as a gangster, or other menacing heavies.... Avery's TV roles include the Columbo episodes "A Friend in Deed" , "Dead Weight" , "The Most Crucial Game" and "Identity Crisis" . Other TV appearances include Gunsmoke, Daniel Boone, The Twilight Zone, The Munsters, The Odd Couple, Kojak, Quincy, M.E. and Law & Order. Some motion pictures Avery appeared in are the John Cassavetes's films, Too Late Blues , Faces , Minnie and Moskowitz , The Killing of a Chinese Bookie and Gloria .
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