Paul Avery, Veteran Actor and Newspaper Founder, Dies in New Jersey House Fire at 84

Paul Avery, an 84-year-old actor and newspaper editor, died in a house fire in Blairstown, New Jersey early Tuesday morning alongside his wife, Sheila. Firefighters arrived before 1 a.m. and pulled the couple from the flame-engulfed residence, but both were pronounced dead shortly after sustaining critical injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Avery spent two decades working in television and film during the 1970s and 1980s. He secured a recurring role as Hughie, a bartender at a fictional establishment, on the soap opera "All My Children" for 12 years. Beyond his soap opera work, he appeared in guest-starring roles on shows including "Soap" and "Three's Company," and played a cameraman in the original 1978 "Superman" film.

After stepping away from acting, Avery transitioned into journalism and community work. He worked at the New York Times before founding and serving as executive editor of Ridge View Echo, an online newspaper based in his adopted hometown. According to his colleague Joe Phalon, who wrote for the publication, Avery embodied an extraordinary life: "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."

Avery's life extended far beyond his professional accomplishments. As a teenager, he was an accomplished skydiver. He later served as a helicopter crew chief in the Vietnam War and continued aviation as a lifelong hobby, maintaining his pilot's license. He was also an avid motorcyclist and active member of the United States National Guard. In 2018, Avery became the full-time caregiver for his wife after she suffered a stroke.

Avery and Sheila had two daughters together, Kyle and Parker. Kyle confirmed the family's loss through a Facebook post, stating: "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." The family thanked the Blairstown Fire Department for their response efforts and indicated that service plans would follow.

Avery's death marks a significant loss for his small-town community. Phalon noted that his passing would "leave a real void in this community. Not just Blairstown, but the towns around as well."