Cast & creator
Nipsey Russell
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Merv Griffin Show
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.
Also known as: Julius Russell
9
film credits
20
television credits
29
1948–2001 · acting roles
6.9
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (29)
Showing 29 of 29 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self
1993
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
The Love Boat
Dan Manhoney
1977
Match Game
Self
1973
The Red Skelton Show
Nipsey Ralston
1951The Red Skelton Show
Self
1951
Spin City
Nipsey Russell
1996
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self
1957
Police Woman
Charlie Witt
1974
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
1968
The Dean Martin Show
1965
100 Centre Street
Wallace Roy
2001
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
1973$weepstake$
1979Barefoot in the Park
Honey Robinson
1970
The Wiz
Tinman
1978
Wildcats
Ben Edwards
1986
Posse
Snopes
1993
Car 54, Where Are You?
Police Captain Dave Anderson
1994
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Self (archive footage)
1970
Dream One
Mr. Rip / Benjamin
1984The Dean Martin Comedy World
Host
1974
Wiz on Down the Road
Tinman
1978
Fame
Vinny
1978
The Strolling '20s
Self
1966
Your Number's Up
Host
1985