The Wiz

NIPSEY RUSSELL
Oct. 13, 1924 - Oct. 2, 2005

Appearing on TV game shows and talk shows, actor and comedian Nipsey Russell was a tongue-in-cheek "poet laureate of television" best-known for the comic four-line verses he frequently delivered on camera. Those quips, illuminated by ... moreRussell's sunny demeanor, secured him a spot as one of the first blacks to appear regularly as a panelist on such high-profile game shows as "Hollywood Squares," "The $50,000 Pyramid" and "The Match Game." Russell, a regular on "The Dean Martin Show," also enjoyed a movie career crowned by his critically acclaimed turn as the Tin Man in the 1978 movie musical "The Wiz."