Nipsey Russell RIP

[Free For All]

NEW YORK (AP) - Nipsey Russell, who played the Tin Man alongside Diana Ross and Michael Jackson in "The Wiz" as part of a decades-long career in stage, television and film, has died. He was 80.

The actor, who had been suffering from cancer, died Sunday afternoon at Lenox Hill Hospital, said his longtime manager Joseph Rapp.

Born in Atlanta, Russell launched his television career as Officer Anderson in the 1961 television series "Car 54, Where are You?" He also appeared in the 1994 film version.

He became a fixture on popular television game and talk shows, where he was welcomed for his poetic delivery that earned him the moniker the "poet laureate of television." He also took his signature four-line poetry on the road for readings and performances.

Russell also appeared in the films "Nemo" in 1984, "Wildcats" in 1986 and "Posse" in 1993.

He settled in New York after graduating from the University of Cincinnati and serving as an Army captain in Europe during World War II, Rapp said.

Russell never married. "He always said, 'I have trouble living with myself, how could I live with anyone else,'" Rapp said. "But he was a wonderful guy, very quiet, never bragged."

Edited October 4, 2005 by Free For All

[Soul Stream]

Loved Nipsy as a kid, a late night talk show guest/hollywood squares-kind of guy that brought a lot of laughs. The older I get, the more I miss these kind of entertainers. Just some simple laughs.

[JSngry]

[paul secor]

I remember when Nipsy Russell was the co-host on a late night show in the mid sixties. (I believe it was Les Crane's show.) Fat Jack Leonard was one of the guests and in the midst of his usual insults, he said to Nipsy, "I knew you when you were a slave." Nipsy looked as if he wanted to hit him in the chops right then, and I don't believe that he spoke for the remainder of the program. He should have clocked him, but if he had that probably would have ended his career.

[catesta]

I had no idea he ws 80.

R.I.P., Nipsey.

[BERIGAN]

I had no idea he ws 80.

R.I.P., Nipsey. 

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I know what you mean about age...he was about 10 days away from 81!

Can anyone find any of his poety online? I sure can't and the youngsters here need to see what we are talking about...his role in the wiz is not what folks should remember of him....