Nipsey Russell
- Acting
- September 15, 1918 · Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- October 2, 2005
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
Filmography
- 100 Centre Street · Wallace Roy
- Spin City · Nipsey Russell
- Car 54, Where Are You? · Police Captain Dave Anderson
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien · Self
- Posse · Snopes
- Wildcats · Ben Edwards
- Your Number's Up · Host
- Dream One · Mr. Rip / Benjamin
- $weepstake$
- Fame · Vinny
- The Wiz · Tinman
- Wiz on Down the Road · Tinman
- The Love Boat · Dan Manhoney
- Police Woman · Charlie Witt
- The Dean Martin Comedy World · Host
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts · Self
- Match Game · Self
- Barefoot in the Park · Honey Robinson
- King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis · Self
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In · Self
- The Strolling '20s · Self
- The Dean Martin Show
- The Merv Griffin Show · Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson · Self
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar · Self
- The Red Skelton Show · Nipsey Ralston, Self
- The Bob Hope Show · Self
- The Ed Sullivan Show · Self