
Nipsey Russell
Acting
Born 1918-09-15 · Atlanta, Georgia, USA · Died 2005-10-02
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

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 (archive footage)

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)

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
Self /Officer Nipsey Ralston

The Red Skelton Show
Self

The Bob Hope Show
Self

The Ed Sullivan Show
Self