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.

Filmography

• 100 Centre Street — Wallace Roy
• Spin City — Nipsey Russell
• 1994Car 54, Where Are You? — Police Captain Dave Anderson
• 1993Posse — Snopes
• 1986Wildcats — Ben Edwards
• Your Number's Up — Host
• 1984Dream One — Mr. Rip / Benjamin
• $weepstake$
• 1978Fame — Vinny
• 1978The Wiz — Tinman
• 1978Wiz on Down the Road — Tinman
• The Love Boat — Dan Manhoney
• Police Woman — Charlie Witt
• The Dean Martin Comedy World — Host
• Barefoot in the Park — Honey Robinson
• The Dean Martin Show
• The Red Skelton Show — Nipsey Ralston, Self

Appearances as themselves (11)

• Late Night with Conan O'Brien — Self
• Match Game — Self
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts — Self
• 1970King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis — Self (archive footage)
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In — Self (uncredited)
• 1966The Strolling '20s — Self
• The Merv Griffin Show — Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson — Self
• Tonight Starring Jack Paar — Self
• The Bob Hope Show — Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show — Self