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Nipsey Russell(1918-2005)

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Soundtrack
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Nipsey Russell at an event for The Aviator (2004)
The History of Everything F/K/A/ Kissy Cousins Monster Babies and Morphing Elvis Official Trailer
Play trailer1:08
The History of Everything Circa 1993: F/K/A Kissy Cousins Monster Babies (2018)
3 Videos
12 Photos
Nipsey Russell was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1918. He got his start in Rock and Roll Review and other music revues in the 1950s. In the 1960s Russell achieved his first major role as Officer Anderson in Car 54, Where Are You? (1961). After being on the show for a year, Russell was a mainstay on variety shows, appearing on Laugh-In, The Dean Martin Show (1965), and the Jackie Gleason Show, among many others. Russell also appeared on many small shows in the 1960s as an always unique personality who would liven up almost any program. As the 1970s approached, Nipsey Russell became a popular game show panelist, appearing on To Tell The Truth, Match Game PM (1975), and many others. Nipsey was known as television's poet laureate on such shows as the Tonight Show and many other popular talk shows of the day.

Nipsey's film roles were remarkably scarce, but he will always be remembered for his role of the Tin Man in the 1978 remake of the Wizard of Oz, The Wiz (1978). The movie was a box office failure, but since that time the movie has been considered a cult classic. But Russell's skill cannot be judged solely by his television and movie appearances. He was an accomplished actor and singer on stage and had a strong presence on Broadway for many years.
BornOctober 13, 1918
DiedOctober 2, 2005(86)
BornOctober 13, 1918
DiedOctober 2, 2005(86)
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Photos12

Nipsey Russell in Wildcats (1986)
Nipsey Russell in Wildcats (1986)
Nipsey Russell in The Love Boat (1977)
Phillip Carter and Nipsey Russell in Car 54, Where Are You? (1961)
Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, Diana Ross, Ted Ross, and Nipsey Russell in The Wiz (1978)
Nipsey Russell in The Wiz (1978)
Nipsey Russell in The Wiz (1978)
Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Ted Ross, and Nipsey Russell in The Wiz (1978)
"Match Game PM" Gene Rayburn, Nipsey Russel, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Ethel Merman, Richard Dawson, Fannie  Flagg 1976 / CBS
Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Diahann Carroll, Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Paula Kelly, George Kirby, Nipsey Russell, Joe Williams, and Gloria Lynne
Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Dick Martin, and Nipsey Russell in The Dean Martin Show (1965)

Known for

The Wiz (1978)
The Wiz
5.5
  • Tinman
  • 1978
Woody Harrelson, Goldie Hawn, Wesley Snipes, Jsu Garcia, Tab Thacker, and Mykelti Williamson in Wildcats (1986)
Wildcats
6.0
  • Edwards
  • 1986
Scoey Mitchell and Tracy Reed in Barefoot in the Park (1970)
Barefoot in the Park
7.6
TV Series
  • Honey Robinson
Posse (1993)
Posse
5.5
  • Snopes
  • 1993

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • Alan Arkin, Paula Devicq, Manny Perez, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, and Joseph Lyle Taylor in 100 Centre Street (2001)
    100 Centre Street
  • Michael J. Fox, Barry Bostwick, Alan Ruck, Michael Boatman, Connie Britton, Alexander Chaplin, and Richard Kind in Spin City (1996)
    Spin City
  • Conan O'Brien in Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993)
    Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  • Car 54, Where Are You? (1994)
    Car 54, Where Are You?
  • Posse (1993)
    Posse
  • Marla Gibbs and Jackée Harry in 227 (1985)
    227
  • Woody Harrelson, Goldie Hawn, Wesley Snipes, Jsu Garcia, Tab Thacker, and Mykelti Williamson in Wildcats (1986)
    Wildcats
  • Harvey Keitel, Mathilda May, and Carole Bouquet in Dream one (1984)
    Dream one
  • Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)
    The Love Boat
  • Pat Klous, Connie Sellecca, and Kathryn Witt in Flying High (1978)
    Flying High
  • Sweepstakes (1979)
    Sweepstakes
  • Diana Ross in Wiz on Down the Road (1978)
    Wiz on Down the Road
  • Fame
  • The Wiz (1978)
    The Wiz
  • Angie Dickinson in Police Woman (1974)
    Police Woman

Writer

  • Soul

Soundtrack

  • Doug Walker in Nostalgia Critic (2007)
    Nostalgia Critic
  • Cat Deeley, Matthew Morrison, Stephen Boss, and JoJo Siwa in So You Think You Can Dance (2005)
    So You Think You Can Dance
  • The Magic of David Copperfield III: Levitating Ferrari
  • The Wiz (1978)
    The Wiz
  • Dean Martin on the "The Dean Martin Show" c. 1970
    The Dean Martin Show
  • Show Time at the Apollo (1955)
    Show Time at the Apollo

Videos3

Trailer
Trailer 1:46
Trailer
The Wiz
Trailer 3:31
The Wiz
The History of Everything Circa 1993 To The Present -- F/K/A Kissy Cousins Monst
Trailer 1:08
The History of Everything Circa 1993 To The Present -- F/K/A Kissy Cousins Monst

Personal details

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    • October 13, 1918
    • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • October 2, 2005
    • New York City, New York, USA(cancer)
  • Other works
    Music video: Chris Rock's "Champagne" (1997).
  • Publicity listings
    • 3 Articles

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    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?"
  • Quotes
    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.
    • Always presenting a poem at his shows

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