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.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Love Boat

Match Game

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

The Merv Griffin Show

The Red Skelton Show

The Red Skelton Show

Spin City

All Movies (9)

• Car 54, Where Are You?1994 · as Police Captain Dave Anderson
• Posse1993 · as Snopes
• Wildcats1986 · as Ben Edwards
• Dream One1984 · as Mr. Rip / Benjamin
• Fame1978 · as Vinny
• The Wiz1978 · as Tinman
• Wiz on Down the Road1978 · as Tinman
• King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis1970 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Strolling '20s1966 · as Self

All TV Shows (20)

• 100 Centre Street2001 · as Wallace Roy
• Spin City1996 · as Nipsey Russell
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self
• Your Number's Up1985 · as Host
• $weepstake$1979
• The Love Boat1977 · as Dan Manhoney
• Police Woman1974 · as Charlie Witt
• The Dean Martin Comedy World1974 · as Host
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts1973 · as Self
• Match Game1973 · as Self
• Barefoot in the Park1970 · as Honey Robinson
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968 · as Self (uncredited)
• The Dean Martin Show1965
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• Tonight Starring Jack Paar1957 · as Self
• The Red Skelton Show1951 · as Nipsey Ralston
• The Red Skelton Show1951 · as Self
• The Bob Hope Show1950 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self