Nipsey Russell
Acting
Born: 1918-09-15 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Biography
Julius "Nipsey" Russell (September 15, 1918 – October 2, 2005) was an American comedian, best known today for his appearances as a guest panelist on game shows from the 1960s through the 1990s, especially Match Game, Password, Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth and Pyramid. His appearances were distinguished in part by the short, humorous poems he would recite during the broadcast. These lyrics became so closely associated with Russell that Dick Clark, Bill Cullen, Betty White, and others regularly referred to him as "the poet laureate of television." He also had a leading role in the film version of The Wiz. Russell was also a frequent guest on Dean Martin's Celebrity Roasts.
Known For
Spin City
Nipsey Russell
The Wiz
Tinman
Wildcats
Ben Edwards
The Love Boat
Dan Manhoney
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
Posse
Snopes
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
Police Woman
Charlie Witt
Car 54, Where Are You?
Police Captain Dave Anderson
Match Game
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
The Dean Martin Show
The Red Skelton Show
Nipsey Ralston
The Red Skelton Show
Self
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Self (archive footage)
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
Dream One
Mr. Rip / Benjamin
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self
The Bob Hope Show
Self
100 Centre Street
Wallace Roy
Wiz on Down the Road
Tinman
Fame
Vinny
Your Number's Up
Host
The Strolling '20s
Self