Nipsey Russell
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.
Acting
TV
Spin City
as Nipsey Russell
1996
Movie
The Wiz
as Tinman
1978
Movie
Wildcats
as Ben Edwards
1986
TV
The Love Boat
as Dan Manhoney
1977
TV
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
as Self
1993
Movie
Posse
as Snopes
1993
TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962
TV
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
as Self (uncredited)
1968
TV
Police Woman
as Charlie Witt
1974
Movie
Car 54, Where Are You?
as Police Captain Dave Anderson
1994
TV
Match Game
as Self
1973
TV
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
1948
TV
The Dean Martin Show
1965
TV
The Red Skelton Show
as Self /Officer Nipsey Ralston
1951
TV
The Red Skelton Show
as Self
1951
Movie
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
as Self (archive footage)
1970
TV
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
1962
TV
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
as Self
1973
Movie
Dream One
as Mr. Rip / Benjamin
1984
TV
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
as Self
1957
TV
The Bob Hope Show
as Self
1950
TV
100 Centre Street
as Wallace Roy
2001
Movie
Wiz on Down the Road
as Tinman
1978
TV
Barefoot in the Park
as Honey Robinson
1970