Nipsey Russell
Acting•Born September 15, 1918•Died October 2, 2005 (age 87)•Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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
1962•TV Series•
7.5
The Love Boat
1977•TV Series•
6.3
Match Game
1973•TV Series•
7.8
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993•TV Series•
7.3
The Merv Griffin Show
1962•TV Series•
6.6
The Red Skelton Show
1951•TV Series•
7.4
The Red Skelton Show
1951•TV Series•
7.4
Spin City
1996•TV Series•
7.0
Filmography
Personal Info
DepartmentActing
BirthdaySeptember 15, 1918
Day of DeathOctober 2, 2005
Place of BirthAtlanta, Georgia, USA
Popularity0.5