Nipsey Russell - dead at 80

[Evil Chris]

It's a rough day for comedians... RIP

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/nationa...l20051004.html

[MorganGrayson]

It's funny...you get to a certain age and start thinking "he was *only* 80???? Unfair."

[Evil Chris]

I liked Nipsey on all those 70s game shows.
He was classy.

[Steady]

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

I liked Nipsey on all those 70s game shows.
He was classy.

Hollywood Squares

[Newton]

The opposite of pro is con, that fact is clearly seen, if progress means move forward, then what does Congress mean?"

Classic ..

Rest in Peace ..

[Evil Chris]

Originally Posted by Newton

The opposite of pro is con, that fact is clearly seen, if progress means move forward, then what does Congress mean?"

Classic ..

Rest in Peace ..

Newton that reminds me of another (more Canadian) joke.

Our government sits in "Parliament" from the French words: parler (to speak), and mentir (to lie)...

[Dravyk]

Shall I be the first to say it? Ok.

"I thought he was already dead."

Serioiusly though, ain't it weird when you hear someone die who hasn't been in the public eye for .... well, forever? It's almost like they were dead.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

Shall I be the first to say it? Ok.

"I thought he was already dead."

Serioiusly though, ain't it weird when you hear someone die who hasn't been in the public eye for .... well, forever? It's almost like they were dead.

It's true. I assumed he was dead as well. I don't know how many here remember his stand up routines, but as PD said, they were funny.

I also just read today that Don Adams died last week. I don't remember seeing it anywhere.

[PornoDoggy]

He was amusing on the game shows, but his standup routines used to crack me up.

[selena]

Help me remember.

This is someone that I have associated with Bill Cosby for some reason. Is that accurate?

[Evil Chris]

Originally Posted by selena

Help me remember.

This is someone that I have associated with Bill Cosby for some reason. Is that accurate?

Hmmm don't know about that. But here's a short bio.

Nipsey Russell was born in Atlanta Georgia in 1924. Russell got his start in Rock and Roll and other music reviews 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), the Jackie Gleason Show, among many others. Russell also appeared in so many small shows in the 1960s as an always unique personality that would liven up almost any program. As the 1970s approached Nipsey Russell became a popular game show panelist, appearing mostly on To Tell The Truth, "Match Game PM" (1975), and many others. Nipsey was known as Television's Poet Laurete. On such shows like The Tonight Show, and many other very popular talk shows of the day.

Nipsey's film roles have been remarkably scarce, but will always be remembered for his role of the Tin Man in the 1978 remake of the Wizard of Oz, The Wiz (1978/I). The movie was a box office failure, but since the movie has been considered a cult classic. But Russell's skill cannot be weighed by his television and movie appearances. He is an accomplished actor and singer on stage.

[MorganGrayson]

Thank you, Chris.

[TheEnforcer]

He had some great witty humor.

[selena]

Thank you, Chris. After reading, I'm nearly sure it is Match Game that I remember that name from.

[Evil Chris]

Originally Posted by selena

Thank you, Chris. After reading, I'm nearly sure it is Match Game that I remember that name from.

That is where I remember him most from. He always had a little rhyme for a given situation.

[SykkBoy]

I always thought he was a very underrated standup comedian...I would concur with PD and Red...really funny stuff