Julius "Nipsey" Russell (September 15, 1918 [date disputed] – October 2, 2005) was an American comedian, and the actor who portrayed the Tin Man in the 1978 movie version of The Wiz.
Biography[]
Born in Atlanta, Georgia. His birthdate is unclear; according to one report his birth certificate was lost. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and attended the University of Cincinnati. In the U.S Army he served as a medic during World War II.
In the middle of the 1950s Russell joined forces with the popular movie comedian Mantan Moreland for a stage act, replacing Ben Carter as Moreland's dapper straight man.
Early Career[]
In September 1957 he made an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show which soon led to several guest spots with Jack Paar on The Tonight Show and in 1961 a supporting role as a New York policeman, "Andy" Anderson, in the sitcom Car 54, Where Are You?
Russell became the first black performer to become a regular panelist on a daily network game show when he joined ABC's Missing Links in 1964.
He was a trained dancer, influenced in his youth by legendary performer Jack Wiggins. Russell put these talents to use in The Wiz when he portrayed the Tin Man who was an old busted amusement park animatronic made from spare cans and other mechanics.
Later Career[]
During the 1990s, Russell continued to make appearances on shows like Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Chris Rock Show on HBO. He died of stomach cancer on October 2, 2005 in New York City at the age of 87. Russell never married or had any children.
Russell's final TV appearance was as a panelist on a game show–themed week on the final season of the Tom Bergeron version of Hollywood Squares in 2003
He died of stomach cancer on October 2, 2005 in New York City at the age of 87. Russell never married or had any children. His ashes were scattered in the Atlantic Ocean.