Nipsey Russell

Biography

Nipsey Russell was an American entertainer, born in Atlanta, who began as a comedian in the 1940s, working as a carhop at a drive-in and later performing in nightclubs until he was discovered. In 1952 he teamed with Mantan Moreland as a straight man, and their act appeared in the compilation films Rhythm and Blues Review and Rock 'n' Roll Revue (1955). A 1957 Ed Sullivan Show appearance led to guest spots on The Tonight Show, and in 1961 he played policeman Andy Anderson on the sitcom Car 54, Where Are You?, then returned to the role in the 1994 film version. He was the Tin Man in The Wiz (1978) and a familiar panelist on game shows including Match Game, Hollywood Squares and Pyramid, and the first Black performer to hold a regular panelist slot on a daily network game show. His short comic poems earned him the nickname the poet laureate of television.

87years old at death

Born September 15, 1918Atlanta
Died October 2, 2005New York City
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Also credited as Julius Russell

Movie Career

Films: 4
Career span: 39 years1955 to 1994

Every film, newest first

1994Car 54, Where Are You?IMDb rating 2.6
1986WildcatsIMDb rating 6.1
1978The WizIMDb rating 5.7
1955Rock 'n' Roll RevueIMDb rating 6.1

Genres

Did you know?!

A change of course
Russell launched his comedy career in the 1940s while working as a carhop at The Varsity, an Atlanta drive-in, where he earned bigger tips by making customers laugh.
Getting ready for a role
Russell knew two poems and performed one on Missing Links, hosted by Ed McMahon. After he did the second, McMahon gave him a daily poem segment, so Russell went home and found he could write more.

Nipsey Russell movies on Netflix

Car 54, Where Are You?1994IMDb rating 2.6as Police Captain Dave Anderson
Wildcats1986IMDb rating 6.1as Ben Edwards
The Wiz1978IMDb rating 5.7as Tinman
Rock 'n' Roll Revue1955IMDb rating 6.1as Himself

Worked with

Nipsey Russell made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Woody Harrelson

M. Emmet Walsh

Bruce McGill

Jeremy Piven

John C. McGinley

Wesley Snipes

Sidney LumetDirector, 1 film Michael RitchieDirector, 1 film

Bill FishmanDirector, 1 film

Films together

Woody Harrelson1 film together, 1986
Woody Harrelson's page
- Wildcats1986IMDb rating 6.1Russell as Ben EdwardsHarrelson as Krushinski
M. Emmet Walsh1 film together, 1986
M. Emmet Walsh's page
- Wildcats1986IMDb rating 6.1Russell as Ben EdwardsWalsh as Walt Coes
Bruce McGill1 film together, 1986
Bruce McGill's page
- Wildcats1986IMDb rating 6.1Russell as Ben EdwardsMcGill as Dan Darwell
Jeremy Piven1 film together, 1994
Jeremy Piven's page
- Car 54, Where Are You?1994IMDb rating 2.6Russell as Police Captain Dave AndersonPiven as Herbert Hortz
John C. McGinley1 film together, 1994
John C. McGinley's page
- Car 54, Where Are You?1994IMDb rating 2.6Russell as Police Captain Dave AndersonMcGinley as Officer Francis Muldoon
Wesley Snipes1 film together, 1986
Wesley Snipes's page
- Wildcats1986IMDb rating 6.1Russell as Ben EdwardsSnipes as Trumaine
Sidney LumetDirector, 1 film, 1978
All films by Sidney Lumet
- The Wiz1978IMDb rating 5.7Russell as Tinman
Michael RitchieDirector, 1 film, 1986
All films by Michael Ritchie
- Wildcats1986IMDb rating 6.1Russell as Ben Edwards
Bill FishmanDirector, 1 film, 1994
All films by Bill Fishman
- Car 54, Where Are You?1994IMDb rating 2.6Russell as Police Captain Dave Anderson

Awards

One award and honor.

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Nipsey Russell's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
1979	NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture	The Wiz	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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