Damn…another obit. This one's for the "Poet Laureate of Television," Nipsey Russell, who was probably best known for his countless game show appearances. I met him only once — backstage at the game show called Rhyme and Reason that was more or less invented to have him on its panel. He was cheery, he was funny, he was happy to meet everyone. If being around a guy for fifteen minutes makes you qualified to have an opinion about him, then I'd say Nipsey Russell was a hardworking guy who was very happy to have that work, and that he earned every bit of fame and success he enjoyed.
He sure was around for a long time. I don't know much more about him than is mentioned in the obits now appearing (like this one) although they don't seem to be noting all the decades he spent working dives and clubs, many in the so-called "Negro Circuit," before joining the thin ranks of performers who broke out of that show business ghetto. He was among the regulars on the 1961 sitcom, Car 54, Where Are You?, and even before that, an occasional performer on Ed Sullivan's popular variety hour. He played Vegas often — one time, doing Pseudolus in a production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. I wish I could have seen that or, even better, his regular act. Because he always made me laugh.