Acting
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.
Filmography
100 Centre Street
Series · 2001
Spin City
Series · 1996
Car 54, Where Are You?
Film · 1994
Posse
Film · 1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Series · 1993
Wildcats
Film · 1986
Your Number's Up
Series · 1985
Dream One
Film · 1984
$weepstake$
Series · 1979
The Wiz
Film · 1978
Fame
Film · 1978
Wiz on Down the Road
Film · 1978
The Love Boat
Series · 1977
The Dean Martin Comedy World
Series · 1974
Police Woman
Series · 1974
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Series · 1973
Match Game
Series · 1973
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Film · 1970
Barefoot in the Park
Series · 1970
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Series · 1968
The Strolling '20s
Film · 1966
The Dean Martin Show
Series · 1965
The Merv Griffin Show
Series · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Series · 1957
The Red Skelton Show
Series · 1951
The Red Skelton Show
Series · 1951
The Bob Hope Show
Series · 1950
The Ed Sullivan Show
Series · 1948