RIP Nipsey Russell
 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051004/...v/obit_russell

NEW YORK - 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."



:( :( May his soul rest in peace.

Yeah I heard this on the radio this morning.

I hadn't heard until I read this. :(

I'm sorry for crashing, but I really, really loved his humor.

Me neither!

Man, he was only 80? I would have placed him much older.

RIP.

A co-worker told me the sad news as I was leaving the office yesterday.

I LOVED him as the Tin Man in The Wiz: "Pour some oil on me!"

RIP Mr. Russell :( :(

:(

I was too young to really remember Mr. Russell, but I hope he rests in peace. I remember Chris Rock's "Champagne Song" talked about him. "I drink champagne with Nipsey Russell".

:( I hate hearing that. I always enjoyed his little poems. He used to be on The Match Game a lot.

I liked him on Match Game. RIP Nipsey :(

i remember him hosting a kids show on BET years ago. the show was a bit corny but cute. i'm sorry to hear about his passing.

:( RIP

Very sad indeed!:(

My tribute to Nipsey Russell's only game show hosted
 

Ed McMahan was the one who coined him "The Poet Laureate of Television".

Well, being the game show fan that I am, here are some pics of the only game show he ever hosted (btw, he is the 2nd black man to host a game show, Adam Wade being the first).

Your Number's Up Theme Song
*opening spiel by announcer John Harlan*
Every member of this studio audience has written down the last four digits of their phone number! If you want to share in thousands of dollars write down yours! Because everyday, someone at home wins on...

http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem609.jpg

Now here's the poet laureate of television, NIPSEY RUSSELL!!

http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem614.jpg

At this time exactly 20 years ago, this game show aired on NBC Monday through Friday at 12:30 pm EST (aired 9/23/85 - 12/20/85). I was a fan of this show, I even sent in postcards for the Home Viewer Game hoping I would win $1,000 (or $5,000 if it was a Friday show).

How was this game played?

Main Game

Three contestants competed in a phrase solving game. Each player would recieve a diamond. A wheel was spun, which had numbers on it and a "car" space. 2 players would get a number (or car) on each spin and one would get the blank space. The person on the blank space would pick one of two partially revealed phrases which had initials in them standing for the answers. (Ex: As predicted the IOM.....) Nipsey would then finish the phrase (...turned out to be a bad for Caesar.) and the first of the two contestants who jumped in and answered correctly got a diamond and the number that was on the wheel was placed on a board behind the contestants. This was where the home player game was brought in. People in the studio audience who's last 4 digits of their phone number matched numbers on the board, that meant that their number was up and they would come down and chose a contestant who they thought would win the game. If they were correct, they won a trip. If you hit the car spot, the contestant picked a number which may be under a license plate on the car. If correct, the player won the car. People at home whose last 4 digits matched the board could send in a postcard which was entered into a drawing for cash prizes. 6 diamonds for the player won the game and went to the bonus round.

Bonus Round

Before the bonus round the player selected a postcard sent in by a home viewer. In the bonus round, the player had 60 seconds to uncover the home players last 4 digits in their phone numbers. The board resembled a telephone keypad with the numbers 0-9 posted. The player called out a number and behind each had a number of letters which corresponded to the answers to clues (Ex: "NYY, baseball team known as the bronx bombers"). If the contestant uncovered all 4 of the numbers in the contestants number, both the contestant and the home player won $5,000. If the contestant had more of one number in their number, then if the number was posted as many times as it was included. (Did anybody ever have 4 of the same number in their number?)

Some more pics:

Main Game
http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem625.jpg

http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem617.jpg

http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem623.jpg

Uh oh, she's pulling a postcard out of a drum, is it my postcard?
http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem628.jpg

Bonus Round
http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem629.jpg

http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem631.jpg

http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem632.jpg

Notable moment on the show: On the finale episode, the main game electronic wheel was intentially rigged so that one of the players would land on the car hoping for a win. The wheel landed on the car space FIVE times and was NOT won once!

Nipsey is hamming is up, saying, "What's the matter with the wheel?! Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa! OMG, it was SO hilarious!

http://www.gameshow-galaxy.net/images/DzlItem624.jpg

On an ironic note, just yesterday I downloaded and played the "Your Number's Up" theme song (see above), not knowing that Nipsey had just passed away. Coincidence? I don't think so...