Nipsey Russell Quotes

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Nipsey Russell

Profession : Comedian

Birth : September 15, 1918

My mother just liked the way the name Nipsey sounded.

Nipsey Russell

I've always had the ability to manipulate words and communicate ideas and thoughts.

Nipsey Russell

Jack Paar was my first TV patron saint.

Nipsey Russell

Divorces are getting so common that a woman I know doesn't bother getting a new marriage license. They just punch her old one and give her a transfer. You can't teach an old dog new tricks - so she keeps changing dogs.

Nipsey Russell

I began working on stage in Atlanta when I was 3, doing a dance act with the Ragamuffins of Rhythm. Later I became a juvenile straight man for the older comedians. After that I worked out a stand-up act.

Nipsey Russell

In all my years in show business - on stage, clubs and TV shows - my audience has been 75 percent white. In Las Vegas and Atlantic City I look out at the crowd and only see a few black faces here and there. But I can't allow myself to be conscious of the race factor. I couldn't perform my best under those conditions.

Nipsey Russell

Some college athletes don't want to turn pro, they don't want to take the cut in pay.

Nipsey Russell

Word games are very easy for me.

Nipsey Russell

There's no money in television, but TV provides the wherewithal to get the dollars for live performances.

Nipsey Russell

If you see me on the street, don't just say, 'There goes Nipsey.' Walk over and say, 'Hello Nipsey,' and give me a warm slap on the back and hand me a few dollars.

Nipsey Russell

He who turns the other cheek will get hit with the other fist.

Nipsey Russell

I feel the life expectancy of a comedian is 30 seconds. If you don't hook an audience in half-a-minute, you're dead.

Nipsey Russell

Six good guest shots on top shows during one season are more than enough and any producer who wants to make me happy could offer some floating guest dates for discussion and panel shows. It's generally agreed that I love to talk, so shows of this kind are right down my alley.

Nipsey Russell

Our country's social revolution lends itself to jokes and I use them.

Nipsey Russell

My only mission is to look for fun, the lighter side of life. I spell it fool-osophy.

Nipsey Russell

I'm living the life of liberty, happiness and pursuit.

Nipsey Russell

Many times good actors I have known in New York accept series. I tune in at the beginning of the new season and think 'He's really working.' But six months later, if I tune in again, the actor is on a treadmill, grinding it out as best he can, and he can't help it.

Nipsey Russell

There aren't any messages in my social protestations.

Nipsey Russell

I talk about things that are front page news.

Nipsey Russell

Humor is based on the way a man looks at life's ironies, and being a member of a minority group can certainly be ironic.

Nipsey Russell