Actor and WWII Vet Nipsey Russell Dies at 80
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James Joyner | Tuesday, October 4, 2005 |
Funnyman Nipsey Russell died over the weekend after a long bout with cancer. He was 80 years old.
‘The Wiz’ Actor Nipsey Russell Dies at 80
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.
I grew up watching Russell on a string of game shows and remember him being quite funny. I saw “Car 54″ in reruns years later but only vaguely remember him being part of it.
Update: Skippy offers a tribute to Russell, whom he describes as “kind and affable, and truly projected an enjoyment of his work”.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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