Among the routines Avery developed during his years at Second City was
the "samurai landlord" that John Belushi later made famous on Saturday Night Live (1975).
Was long-time spokesman for Doritos chips. Every commercial had him
playing a character (chef, sultan, judge, pilot, etc.) and before he
would perfect his job, someone would eat Doritos and mess him
up.
In 1951, he enlisted in the Army, where he was assigned to special
services, the entertainment branch. By the end of his duty in Europe,
he had directed 86 variety shows.
Has a small theatre named after him on Magnolia Blvd. in North
Hollywood, California.
He was nominated for a 1979 Joseph Jefferson Award for Guest Artist for his performance in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" at the Marriott Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
His son Josh Schreiber is an actor and performs in his own band "Big
Fat Jerome".
Described himself as a "class clown" in school.
Replaced Roger C. Carmel (after he died) as Senor Naugles for the Mexican fast food chain Naugles commercials.
He was awarded the 1971 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Performance for "Metamorphoses" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.