Nipsey Russell was born Hyram Goldstien on November 11, 1934, in the city of brotherly love- Fairbanks, Alaska.
One of 17 siblings, young Nipsey got his nickname (which he later changed his name to legally, after the media circus surrounding 1940s serial killer, Hyramm Goldstern) from his grandfather, who lived with the family. Nipsey's grandfather, Oscar "Taffy" Goldstien, would always call out things like "Nipsey! Bring me my cudgel!", and since young Nipsey was the only one who replied, the nickname stuck with him.
He left home, covered with black and blue cudgel marks, at the tender age of 12, and decided to make his fortune in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, at that time, Vegas consisted of a run down shack and a tumbleweed ranch, and so young Nipsey fell into despair.
At the age of 15 he was discovered by entertainment agent Peter "Peter" Munyon. Munyon was passing through Las Vegas and heard poetry coming from a nearby barn. Several hours later, when the chain on the barn doors had been successfully sawed through, a ladder found to reach the upper loft, the ladder replaced by a more solid ladder that would support a man's weight, and his arm was set in a cast, Nipsey Russell was discovered.
Traveling with Munyon, the pair started the unlikely comedy duo of "Russell and Munyon", hitting the red hot California comedy scene like a china vase thrown by a woman with flabby arms. Their routine, although limited (it consisted of Munyon saying words at random, to which Nipsey would have to make up a goofy rhyme using the word, or be beaten with a cudgel), was a huge hit with the locals. They traveled from town to town, and their reputation as a comedy giant spread like stick butter during a heatwave.
In september of 1953, Munyon was tragically killed in a bizarre accident involving a jar of vaseline, a wooden cudgel, and a good running start. Russell, only 19 at the time, found himself ready to take on the entertainment world as a solo act. And so, wiping the vaseline off his hands, he headed for Tinseltown.
He was found several weeks later, frozen and raving, somewhere near the north pole. When he was informed that Santa's Workshop did not exist, he was devastated.
In 1954 he was released from psychiatric care, and made his way to Hollywood. There he was discovered by 1950s movie production giant, Phil Stump. Stump had had a successful run of films, and the tagline "If it's BIG, it's probably a STUMP!" was on the lips of everyone in Hollywood. He saw Nipsey as a great asset to help him break into the medium of Television.
Stumps first few game shows, featuring Russell, were a disaster. His first, "Whose Bones Are These?", was canceled after only 7 minutes. His follow up shows, "Don't Wake Grandma", "Can O Worms", and "Let's Lick Things!", met with equal success.
It wasn't until Stump hit it HUGE in the early 60s with "50 Car Pile-up" that Nipsey's talent was noticed by the general TV public. Nipsey's dry wit and knack for rhyming made him hugely popular with both the television audience, and the attending emergency squads, and he was later signed for such game show blockbusters as "The Hollywood Squares" and "Match Game". Stump, however, faded into obscurity.
Nipsey is still alive and well today. He wisely invested his earnings from his game show days, and today lives a comfortable retired life with his wife, Pia Zadora. The couple makes their home in Buffalo NY.
Dr. Torgo
And Nipsey, if you read this, please know that it was written out of honor and respect. We love you, man. Nobody could rhyme words with "Chump" quite like you could, my friend.
Dr. Torgo