Nipsey Russell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nipsey Russell
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Russell in 1971
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Julius Russell
September 15, 1918 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
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| Died | October 2, 2005 (aged 87) New York City, U.S.
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| Years active | 1952–2005 |
Julius "Nipsey" Russell (September 15, 1918 – October 2, 2005) was a famous American actor, comedian, poet, and dancer. He was well-known for appearing on many TV game shows from the 1960s to the 1990s. Some of these shows included Match Game, Hollywood Squares, and Pyramid.
Nipsey Russell was famous for saying short, funny poems during his TV appearances. This earned him the nickname "the poet laureate of television." He also played a main role as the Tin Man in the movie The Wiz. He was a frequent guest on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast and Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Julius Russell was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His exact birthdate is a bit unclear, but records suggest he was born on September 15, 1918. His mother gave him the nickname "Nipsey" because she liked how it sounded.
He went to Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta. Later, he moved to Cincinnati to live with his aunt. This allowed him to attend the University of Cincinnati for free. He served as a medic in the United States Army during World War II. He joined the army in 1941 and returned from Europe in 1945.
Nipsey Russell started his comedy career in the 1940s. He worked as a carhop at a drive-in restaurant called The Varsity in Atlanta. He made customers laugh to earn more tips. He became more famous after performing in nightclubs in the 1950s. He even released comedy albums of his stand-up routines.
Starting His Career in Entertainment
In 1952, Russell teamed up with comedian Mantan Moreland for a stage act. Nipsey played the "straight man" to Moreland's funny character. They performed an old routine where they would interrupt each other's sentences. This made for a very funny and confusing conversation. You can see their act in old films like Rhythm and Blues Review.
In 1957, Nipsey Russell appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. This led to more TV appearances, including with Jack Paar on The Tonight Show. In 1961, he got a role as a New York policeman named Andy Anderson in the TV show Car 54, Where Are You?. He later returned to this role in the movie version of Car 54, Where Are You? in 1994.
In 1965, Russell became a co-host of the Les Crane Show on ABC. He also co-starred in the sitcom Barefoot in the Park in 1970. From 1973 to 1976, he was a regular on The Dean Martin Show. A big role for him was playing the Tin Man in the 1978 film The Wiz, alongside Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. He also often filled in as a guest host on The Tonight Show when Johnny Carson was the main host.
Game Show Star
Nipsey Russell made history in 1964. He became the first Black performer to be a regular panelist on a daily network game show. This was on ABC's Missing Links. He was also on another ABC show called Rhyme and Reason, which was all about poetry.
In 1971, he became a regular panelist on To Tell the Truth. This led to his famous role on Match Game a few years later. He was also a panelist on What's My Line? and was a regular on Pyramid throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He even hosted two versions of Juvenile Jury for BET. In 1985, he hosted the NBC game show Your Number's Up.
Later Years and Legacy
In the 1990s, Nipsey Russell became popular with a new generation of viewers. He was a regular on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He would often appear in funny sketches and share his famous rhymes.
His last TV appearance was in 2003 on Hollywood Squares. Nipsey Russell passed away on October 2, 2005, in New York City, at the age of 87. He died from cancer. His ashes were scattered in the Atlantic Ocean. He is remembered for his quick wit, his unique poems, and his many appearances that brought joy to millions.
See also
In Spanish: Nipsey Russell para niños
