Actor Paul Avery and Wife Die in Blairstown House Fire

Paul Avery, an actor best known for his recurring role on the soap opera "All My Children," and his wife, Sheila, died in a house fire at their home in Blairstown, New Jersey, early Tuesday morning, June 16. He was 81.

Authorities responded to a call just before 1 a.m. Tuesday to find the home engulfed in flames. Firefighters removed the couple from the residence and administered CPR, but both were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The couple's daughter, Kyle Avery, confirmed their deaths in a Facebook post on Tuesday. "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." She expressed gratitude to the Blairstown Fire Department for their efforts.

Avery was best known for playing Hughie, the bartender at Foxy's, on "All My Children," a role he began in 1981 and held as a recurring character for 12 years. His career in film and television began in the 1970s, including a small role as a TV cameraman in the 1978 film "Superman" and a guest appearance on "Three's Company." He was...