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 as the Tin Man. He was also a frequent guest on the long-running "Dean Martin Celebrity Roast" series.
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Movies
Car 54, Where Are You?, Posse, Wildcats, Nemo, The Wiz
TV Shows
Your Number's Up, The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, The Dean Martin Show, Barefoot in the Park, Car 54, Where Are You?, Juvenile Jury, The Dean Martin Comedy World
Star Sign
Virgo
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Trademark
1
Always presenting a poem at his shows
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Quote
1
When asked why he never married: I have trouble living with myself, how could I live with anyone else?
2
I've always had the ability to manipulate words and communicate ideas and thoughts. Writing poems is very simple to do....I start with the joke line and write backward.
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Fact
1
Met a young, unfamiliar actress/singer named Della Reese at one of the nightclubs in New York City; the two became best friends until his death in 2005.
2
To his surprise, on a 2003 episode of Hollywood Squares, it was revealed that the character Little Nipper in the cartoon strip Wee Pals had been named for him.
3
Had a childhood nickname of Stinky Bill.
4
Biography in "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 483-485. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
5
Although he claimed to be a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, he actually attended for only one semester in 1936 and did not receive a degree.
6
Served in Europe as a captain in the United States Army in World War II.
7
Got his start in show business in the late 1950s on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948).
8
Obtained the rank of captain in the army during World World II, when African-American officers were very rare and segregation was official policy.
9
Had a singing/dancing background. He danced with the Ragamuffins of Rhythm.
10
Became one of the first African-Americans to be a regular on game shows (e.g., "To Tell the Truth") and was also one of the first black game show hosts with NBC's "Your Number's Up.".
11
Recorded several "party" albums.
12
An early job as a carhop kick-started his career. To generate tips he would joke around to make his customers laugh. It helped him hone his nightclub act at such establishments as the Club Baby Grand and Apollo Theater. Received his first big break in the late 1950s on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948).
13
Delivered standard four-line topical poems as part of his routine. An example: "The opposite of pro is con; That fact is clearly seen; If progress means move forward, Then what does Congress mean?"
14
Frequently recited a humorous poem during his game show and talk show appearances.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
100 Centre Street
2001
TV Series
Wallace Roy
Spin City
1999
TV Series
Nipsey Russell
Car 54, Where Are You?
1994
Police Captain Dave Anderson
Posse
1993
Snopes
227
1987
TV Series
Uncle Edmund
Wildcats
1986
Ben Edwards
Nemo
1984
Mr. Rip / Benjamin
The Love Boat
1980
TV Series
Dapper Dan Manhoney
Flying High
1979
TV Series
Man
Wiz on Down the Road
1978
Short
Tinman
Fame
1978
TV Movie
Vinny
The Wiz
1978
Tinman
Police Woman
1977
TV Series
Witt
The Bob Hope Show
1973
TV Series
Barney
Barefoot in the Park
1970
TV Series
Honey Robinson
The Red Skelton Hour
1967-1968
TV Series
Hardsell Hopkins / Insurance Doctor / Ex-Policeman
Walter of the Jungle
1967
TV Short
Car 54, Where Are You?
1961-1962
TV Series
Officer Dave Anderson
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
So You Think You Can Dance
2009
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
The Magic of David Copperfield III: Levitating Ferrari
1980
TV Special performer: "A Brand New Day"
The Wiz
1978
performer: "What Would I Do If I Could Feel?", "Slide Some Oil To Me", "Ease On Down The Road #2", "Ease On Down The Road #3", "Be A Lion", "Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day"
Show Time at the Apollo
1955
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Soul
1968
TV Movie additional material
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Jackie Gleason Show
1969
TV Series
Himself
Laugh-In
1969
TV Series
Himself
The Alan King Show
1969
TV Movie
Himself - Comedian (as Nipsy Russell)
What's My Line?
1968
TV Series
Himself - Guest Panelist
Soul
1968
TV Movie
Himself
Dream Girl of '67
1966-1967
TV Series
Himself - Bachelor Judge
Our Place
1967
TV Series
Himself
Candid Camera
1967
TV Series
Himself
Snap Judgment
1967
TV Series
Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show
1957-1967
TV Series
Himself - Comedian / Himself
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show
1966
TV Series
Himself
The Strolling '20s
1966
TV Movie
Himself
ABC's Nightlife
1965
TV Series
Himself - Co-Host
Missing Links
1963-1964
TV Series
Himself
The David Susskind Show
1964
TV Series
Himself
Talent Scouts
1963
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show
1962
TV Series
Himself - Comedian
The Jack Paar Tonight Show
1961-1962
TV Series
Himself
Basin Street Revue
1956
Himself
Rhythm and Blues Revue
1955
Documentary
Himself (as Nipsy Russell)
Rock 'n' Roll Revue
1955
Short
Himself
Show Time at the Apollo
1955
TV Series
Himself - Comedian / Singer
Star Words
2015
TV Special
Himself - Host
Hollywood Squares
2003
TV Series
Himself - Panelist
NY TV: By the People Who Made It - Part I & II
1998
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1996-1997
TV Series
Himself
Viva Variety
1997
TV Series
Himself
The Chris Rock Show
1997
TV Series
Himself
Biography
1995
TV Series documentary
Himself
Wolf Trap Presents Victor Borge: An 80th Birthday Celebration