Nipsey Russell
Nipsey Russell | |
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Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
Died | October 2, 2005 , U.S. | (aged 87)
Occupations |
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Years active | 1952–2005 |
Julius "Nipsey" Russell (September 15, 1918 – October 2, 2005)
Early life
Julius Russell was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His birthdate is unclear; according to one report his birth certificate was lost.[3] At the time of his 2005 death, friends said he was 80, and that was the age reported in his obituaries.[4] That implies a birth year of 1924 or 1925; the New York Times obituary gave his birthdate as October 13, 1924.[5] Federal records suggest that he was born in 1918: Census documents record a Julius Russell in Atlanta aged 1 year 4 months in 1920, consistent with a birthdate in late 1918.[2] The Social Security Death Index lists his birthdate as September 15, 1918.[1]
He acquired the nickname "Nipsey" from his mother, who liked the way it sounded.[5][6]
He went to
He got his start as a comedian in the 1940s as a carhop at the Atlanta drive-in The Varsity, where he increased the tips he earned by making customers laugh. He was discovered after he began performing in nightclubs in the 1950s. He subsequently made many "party albums", which were essentially compilations of his stand-up routines.
Early career
In 1952, Russell joined with film comedian
Moreland: Guess who I saw? I saw old—
Russell: Is he back again? I thought he was—
Moreland: He was, but he got out.
Russell: Is that so?
Moreland: Yeah, he was over—
Russell: Is that so?
Soon the entire conversation was conducted in incomplete sentences, with each man anticipating or contradicting the other. Their act can be seen in two all-black-cast compilation films, Rhythm and Blues Review and Rock and Roll Revue; another variation of the "interruption routine", performed by Tommy Davidson and Savion Glover, was featured in Spike Lee's 2000 film Bamboozled.
A September 1957 appearance on
In 1965, Russell became a co-host of ABC's Les Crane Show. In 1970, he was a co-star on the ABC sitcom Barefoot in the Park. From 1973 through 1976, he appeared regularly on The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Comedy World. In 1978 he played the Tin Man in the film version of “The Wiz” alongside Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Scattered appearances on television series followed, as well as occasional guest-host stints on The Tonight Show during the Johnny Carson era. Russell also appeared frequently in Las Vegas, including a series of appearances with Sergio Franchi at the Frontier Hotel in 1978 and 1979,[10][11][12] and with Franchi in 1979 at the Sands Hotel Copa Room.[13] He performed at Kutsher's Country Club in Monticello, New York, on January 1, 1977.
Game shows
Russell became the first black performer to become a regular panelist on a daily network game show when he joined ABC's
Russell’s specialty on game shows was delivering short, humorous poems. He was a regular panelist on a 1970s ABC show,
Later career and death
During the 1990s, Russell gained popularity with a new generation of television viewers as a regular on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Russell often appeared during comedy sketches between scheduled guests and delivered his trademark rhymes.
Russell's final TV appearance was as a panelist on a game show–themed week on the final season of the Tom Bergeron version of Hollywood Squares in 2003.
Russell died on October 2, 2005, at age 87 in New York City, of cancer. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Atlantic Ocean.
References
- ^ a b Nipsey J. Russell, born September 15, 1918, died October 2, 2005. Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index (Death Master File).
- ^ a b U.S. Census, January 1, 1920, state of Georgia, county of DeKalb, city of Atlanta, enumeration district 180, page 4-A, family 75, Julius Russell, age 1 year 4 months.
- ^ "Nipsey Russell". Biography.com. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ Grace, Francie (October 4, 2005). "Actor Nipsey Russell Dead At 80". CBS News. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c Watkins, Mel (October 4, 2005). "Nipsey Russell, a Comic With a Gift for Verse, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ Holley, Joe (October 4, 2005). "Actor Nipsey Russell Dead At 80". Washington Post. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ Gail Fredensborg, Associate Registrar, University of Cincinnati, January 9, 2006.
- ^ National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005.
- ^ Passenger list of the S.S. General Harry Taylor, Port of New York, September 13, 1945, p. 233.
- Seattle Daily Times, Seattle, Washington
- Seattle Daily Times, Seattle, Washington
- Seattle Daily Times, Seattle, Washington
- Seattle Daily Times, Seattle, Washington
- ^ "Nipsey Russell". Britannica. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Eakin, Marah; Teti, John; Adams, Erik (June 16, 2014). "Bonus round stars: 9 celebrities who found their greatest fame on game shows". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^ Lisa Kristoff (April 18, 2018). "William T. Naud, the game show guy". Boothbay Register. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "Nipsey Russell Reveals How He Became a Poet". Jet. December 20, 1979. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
External links
- Nipsey Russell at IMDb