'All My Children’ star Paul Avery, wife Sheila killed in house fire

Paul Avery, the actor best known for his role as Hughie on All My Children, has died alongside his wife, Sheila Avery, following a house fire in New Jersey. He was 86.

Emergency crews responded to a fire at the couple’s home in Blairstown during the early hours of June 16. According to Entertainment Weekly, firefighters extinguished the blaze shortly after 1 a.m. and found Paul and Sheila Avery unresponsive inside the residence. Both later died from their injuries.

Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the fire, and an investigation remains ongoing.

Daughter Pays Tribute to Parents

The couple’s daughter, Kyle Avery, confirmed the deaths in a message shared on social media.

“I’m devastated to share that our parents, Paul and Sheila Garry Avery, passed away early this morning,” she wrote.

“We loved them so much, and they loved us so much, and nobody ever had to wonder if that was so.”

Kyle also thanked the Blairstown Fire Department for its efforts and said funeral arrangements would be announced at a later date.

Friends and community members also paid tribute to Avery, who remained active in local affairs after leaving the entertainment industry.

Joe Phalon, who reported the news for the Ridge View Echo, said Avery’s death would leave “a real void” in the community and surrounding towns.

Paul Avery’s Career on Screen

Avery was best known to soap opera audiences for portraying Hughie, a bartender at Foxy’s on All My Children.

The character appeared during a memorable era of the long-running daytime drama, often serving as a familiar face as storylines unfolded around Pine Valley’s most popular residents.

Beyond his soap opera work, Avery appeared in several television series, including Three’s Company, Stanley and Tales From the Darkside.

He also had a role in the 1978 superhero film Superman, starring Christopher Reeve.

Life After Hollywood

After stepping away from acting, Avery and his wife settled in Blairstown, where he became deeply involved in community life.

He founded Jersey Ridge Soaring, a glider business based at Blairstown Airport, and spent years participating in local civic organisations, including the Rotary Club.

More recently, Avery served on the Blairstown Township Committee and was known locally for his dedication to public service.

Friends said he devoted much of his later life to caring for Sheila while remaining active in the community they called home.

The couple’s deaths have prompted an outpouring of tributes from residents, friends and former colleagues remembering Avery’s contributions both on screen and in his New Jersey community.