**Nipsey Russell** (born September 15, 1918, Atlanta, [Georgia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Georgia-state), U.S.—died October 2, 2005, [New York](https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-state), New York) was an American actor and comedian known for the clever [impromptu](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impromptu) verses that he created for his [television](https://www.britannica.com/technology/television-technology) appearances.

Russell was raised in [Atlanta](https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlanta-Georgia), where he began performing as a child in a singing and dancing troupe. He served in the army as a medic during [World War II](https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II) and later returned to college to finish a degree in English at the [University of Cincinnati](https://www.britannica.com/topic/University-of-Cincinnati) in 1946. After touring [comedy](https://www.britannica.com/art/comedy) clubs in the Midwest, Russell moved to New York, where he attracted attention for his nightclub comedy performances. He [cultivated](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivated) a persona distinct from those of other comedians of the 1950s, [eschewing](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eschewing) the increasing vulgarity then popular in favor of sharply observed social commentary and elaborate wordplay. As the burgeoning[ civil rights movement](https://www.britannica.com/event/American-civil-rights-movement) gathered strength in the 1960s, Russell more frequently incorporated material about [racism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/racism) into his onstage commentary.

Nipsey Russell was a versatile performer who appeared on TV shows, movies, and Broadway. He was known for his role as the Tin Man in The Wiz, his poems, and his humor.