All My Children star Paul Avery and his wife, Sheila, have passed away following a devastating house fire at their home in Blairstown, New Jersey. Emergency responders received a call about the fire just before 1 a.m. on June 16, and the house had gone up in flames by the time they arrived.
Paul and Sheila were rescued from inside but emerged in critical condition, and died at the scene after responders attempted to administer CPR. The cause of the fire is currently unknown and under investigation.
The late couple's daughter, Kyle Avery, announced the sad news of their death on Facebook, writing: "I'm devastated to share that our parents, Paul and Sheila Garry Avery, passed away early this morning."
© Facebook"We loved them so much, and they loved us so much, and nobody ever had to wonder if that was so. We're grateful to the Blairstown Fire Department for their efforts."
Kyle received an outpouring of grief and love from commenters, with one writing: "Your mom was a mentor and an amazing friend to me. Sending love to your family," while another shared: "I'm so sorry, Kyle. I have the fondest memories of your father and the bookstore he had on Main St. He was a gentleman, always kind, and that bookstore was a refuge and a place of great discovery for me."
Paul was best known for playing the bartender, Hughie, on All My Children from 1981 to 1988, as well as for his role in 1978's Superman with Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman. He also acted in Three's Company, Soap, Stanley and Tales from the Darkside, and in hundreds of commercials for brands like M&M's.
© Disney General Entertainment ConPaul harbored many talents and was an avid skydiver and pilot. He started skydiving as a teen before fighting in the Vietnam War in the helicopter crew. When the father retired from acting, he took up journalism and founded a local newspaper, Ridge View Echo, of which he served as executive editor until his death.
WFMZ spoke to Paul's friend and colleague at the Echo, Joe Phalon, about the 81-year-old's indelible impact on the community.
© Facebook"I got a call saying what happened, and I just couldn't believe it," Joe told the outlet. "I always like to call Paul the most interesting man in the world, because he was when you consider everything he's done in his life. Acting, skydiving, Vietnam veteran, started a newspaper."
© Facebook"His death is going to leave a real void in this community," Joe shared. "Not just Blairstown, but the towns around as well. I think we'll really miss him, and I think it's going to become more apparent over time."
Paul scaled back on his activities in the community in 2018 when his wife, Sheila, suffered a stroke, and the former actor became her full-time carer.
