Pub In The Park

He was at least 81 when he died, but it might be 82. Nipsey Russell didn’t have a birth certificate, which isn’t unusual for the time he was born, but he was born into a very unusual time. Born in Atlanta, in approximately 1920, he lived a full life, and one that was long enough to see enormous changes. In many respects, he was a man of his time, refusing to perform stereotypes when he had everything to lose, and these principles helped to give a fantastic comedy career a remarkably good character.

By the time he passed in 2005 , he had established himself as something of an icon in the entertainment industry. He was born in Atlanta, the same city that saw the birth of Dr. King, and he went on to earn a degree in literature from the University of Cincinnati. Somewhere after college, and after his military service in World War II, his love of literature started to reveal a rather remarkable skill. He had a photographic memory, and a certain talent for rhyme. He had memorized over 600 poems, and could spontaneously come up with new verses on the spot, as he demonstrated most beautifully in his later years.

His earlier years were nothing less than spectacular, with laurels earned in nightclubs and comedy clubs, that eventually lead to roles on sitcoms. He did have a career in film and television, but the roles here were scarce. He would find recognition for his past achievements when he landed gigs on To Tell the Truth and Match Game, which made him a permanent fixture in the American imagination. He’d seen the world, but Georgia was always home. Visitors to Atlanta boutique hotels can see first-hand the city that birthed a lifetime of inspiration, and a world of possibility.

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