‘All My Children’ Star Paul Avery and Wife Die in House Fire

The beloved soap opera actor and his wife died after a fire broke out at their home in the early hours of the morning. The couple was found unresponsive inside the burning structure and could not be revived.

Paul Avery, the actor best known for playing bartender Hughie on the long-running soap opera "All My Children," has tragically died alongside his wife, Sheila, at the age of 81. The couple perished in a house fire at their New Jersey home.

Firefighters responded to emergency calls about a blaze at a residential structure on Mohican Road in Blairstown, with reports of possible entrapment, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, June 16. Upon arrival, they found the house completely engulfed in flames.

Crews entered the property just before 1 a.m. and discovered Paul and Sheila unconscious inside and in critical condition. CPR was administered to both, but sadly, neither survived — the couple succumbed to their injuries shortly afterward.

According to New Jersey State Police, the fire was brought under control by 1:03 a.m., with Medevac placed on standby around the same time. An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway.

Paul's daughter, Kyle Avery, confirmed her father's passing in a somber social media statement. "I'm devastated to share that our parents, Paul and Sheila Garry Avery, passed away early this morning," Kyle wrote on Tuesday.

"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. Service plans to follow," she added.

Paul launched his on-screen career in the 1970s, first appearing as Marty "Psycho" Simpson in the 1972 horror film "Stanley." He went on to portray a TV cameraman in 1978's "Superman" alongside Christopher Reeve, before landing the role of Hughie in "All My Children" in 1981.

He remained with the beloved soap opera for 12 years and also appeared in more than 300 commercials, per Soap Opera Digest. Beyond acting, Paul was a man of many talents and deep community ties.

He served as executive editor of the Ridge View Echo and was a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, as well as a licensed pilot. Joe Phallon, a contributing writer for the publication, remembered him warmly.

"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," Joe told WFMZ.

"His death is going to leave a real void in this community. 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," he continued.

Sheila, too, left an indelible mark on those around her. A passionate activist for equality and an accomplished fine artist and fiber artist, she inspired a generation of young women.

Blairstown native and stage performer Lindsay Pfieffer reflected on her influence in a comment beneath Kyle's Facebook post.

"Your mom was pivotal in nurturing my then-budding feminism. I think of her often and the positive impact she had on my life. She was such a kind, joyful, loving, and intelligent person. My heart is with you and your family," Lindsay wrote.

In his final years, Paul had stepped back from his role on the township committee — a position he held until 2018 — to become Sheila's full-time caregiver following her stroke. He remained devoted to her right up until their tragic deaths.