Nipsey Russell

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.

Movies & TV Shows

1. Spin City (1996) — Nipsey Russell
2. The Wiz (1978) — Tinman
3. Wildcats (1986) — Ben Edwards
4. The Love Boat (1977) — Dan Manhoney
5. Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) — Self
6. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) — Self
7. Posse (1993) — Snopes
8. Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) — Self (uncredited)
9. Police Woman (1974) — Charlie Witt
10. Car 54, Where Are You? (1994) — Police Captain Dave Anderson
11. Match Game (1973) — Self
12. The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) — Self
13. The Dean Martin Show (1965)
14. The Red Skelton Show (1951) — Nipsey Ralston
15. King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970) — Self (archive footage)
16. The Merv Griffin Show (1962) — Self
17. The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) — Self
18. Dream One (1984) — Mr. Rip / Benjamin
19. Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) — Self
20. The Bob Hope Show (1950) — Self
21. 100 Centre Street (2001) — Wallace Roy
22. Wiz on Down the Road (1978) — Tinman
23. Barefoot in the Park (1970) — Honey Robinson
24. Fame (1978) — Vinny
25. The Dean Martin Comedy World (1974) — Host
26. Your Number's Up (1985) — Host
27. The Strolling '20s (1966) — Self
28. $weepstake$ (1979)